Eastleigh MP calls for more support for hospitality businesses
Liz Jarvis MP is calling for the government to look at implementing emergency cuts on VAT for hospitality
Last updated 3rd Dec 2025
The Eastleigh MP is calling for the government to give more support to businesses.
It comes after the government's Budget was announced last week.
Liz Jarvis MP is calling for an emergency cut on VAT to be implemented for the hospitality sector.
She said: "The Government must throw our hospitality sector a lifeline.
"They must urgently fix this mess by using its powers to lower business rates and bring in the emergency hospitality VAT cut we Liberal Democrats have been calling for to save our high streets.
“Local business owners, like Tracey, put their heart and soul into bringing vibrancy to our high streets and making their businesses successful but the Government is just making their lives harder.
"First it was stealth taxes on households, and now it’s a stealth tax on our high streets.”
The Eastleigh MP raised her comments in Prime Minister's Question Time today.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, said: "We put in place a strategy for small businesses which was broadly welcomed by small businesses because they contributed to it.
"That involves some of the key asks that they asked of us, including late payment and for hospitality, greater flexibility when it comes to licensing.
"Of course, we'll always look at other measures that can help small businesses.
"We set out quite a lot of them in our small business strategy."