Small businesses in North Yorkshire call for more support ahead of Budget
Jeremy Hunt will deliver his plans tomorrow
Small businesses in North Yorkshire say they need more support from the Government if they are going to survive.
Danielle Cooper runs Glazed and confused ceramics in Tadcaster and is hoping tomorrow's budget will bring good news: "Electric rates bottom line need to be changed, and it should be illegal what they are and also small grants for all all small business owners much like the pandemic, we've kind of gone through a mini pandemic without being in lockdown with this cost of living so we all need help."
"Everyday I get up and I think I live to fight another day and you can plan so far ahead but yeah I don't know what my future holds if things keep going."
She also says her customers need more money in their pockets so they can go out and spend in small businesses like hers: "They are struggling to feed their children and themselves and keep the heating on and you know, they are not going to pop into a place like mine, even though they want, they cannot always afford to and it's not just me, it's cafes and all the other places and we're so vital to all these communities".
"We do want to move to a lower taxed economy"
Jeremy Hunt insisted he had a "plan for growth" in this week's Budget as Downing Street denied suggestions Rishi Sunak viewed the Chancellor as timid and lacking imagination.
The Chancellor said he wanted to move towards a "lower tax economy" in a hint at a pre-election giveaway to voters in the form of a national insurance or income tax cut.
But in a sign that the measures may not be as bold as some Tories hope, he stressed the need to act in a "responsible" way.
After the Treasury released official pictures of Mr Sunak studying the Chancellor's laptop as the pair discussed the Budget, Downing Street rejected the suggestion the Prime Minister was a "backseat driver" ahead of Wednesday's financial statement.
Asked whether Mr Sunak viewed the Chancellor as timid, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Absolutely not. The Chancellor is working very closely with the Prime Minister to deliver our plan for the economy and obviously the Chancellor will be setting out further measures in line with that on Wednesday at the Budget."
Mr Hunt suggested to reporters that a more efficient public sector could give him greater scope for tax cuts.
The Chancellor said: "We do want to move to a lower taxed economy, but we're only going to do so in a way that is responsible and recognises that there are things that taxes pay for, that we couldn't cut taxes by borrowing.
"We'll do so in a responsible way. But if we can spend money on public services more efficiently then that will mean less pressure on taxpayers."
Speculation ahead of the Budget has suggested the Chancellor could seek to cut 1p or 2p off income tax or - as a cheaper alternative - national insurance, to ease the burden on working households ahead of the general election later this year.
Officials have drawn up a range of options for raising money to fund the tax cuts, potentially including reforms to the non-dom status for wealthy individuals with earnings overseas.
Scrapping non-dom status has been promised by Labour, with the money committed to measures including NHS improvements, so adopting the policy could lay a trap for Sir Keir Starmer's party, which would have to find an alternative way to pay for its pledges.
Mr Hunt said: said: "You'll have to see on Wednesday precisely what I'm going to announce."