Autumn Budget: Hanley's bars and restaurants counting on vital help
The Chancellor will make his Autumn Statement announcement
Hospitality businesses in Stoke-on-Trent city centre are urging the Chancellor to help ease what's described as their 'crippling financial pressures' in the Autumn Statement later.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to unveil tax cuts, measures to boost business investment and a tougher approach to welfare in his announcement later today.
Mr Hunt has insisted he will be "responsible with the nation's finances", but his statement on Wednesday will "focus on how we boost business investment and get people back into work".
"VAT reduction. And a little more honesty and transparency." said Rob, owner of The Little Dumpling King in Hanley.
"If it's not a VAT reduction there's no point. Reduce it to 12.5 percent and get 12.5 percent of what businesses can afford. Keep it at 20 percent and get 20 percent of absolutely nothing."
Scott who owns The Gin Rummy Bar & Kitchen on Piccadilly in Hanley said: "The VAT is the main thing. The tax. Any kind of help, or grants or something like that to keep this street going. Because we are all indepedents. The whole street is independents. And it's very hard, the gas bills, the electric bills."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has raised expectations that the autumn statement will begin the process of reducing the tax burden, which is the highest for 70 years after the Government was forced to raise money to respond to Covid-19 and the energy price spike triggered by the Ukraine war.
Sam from Best You Beauty & Training in Pall Mall, Hanley told Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire News: "It's the business tax and business rates they need to drop. There's a lot of empty shops and businesses in Picadilly at the moment. It's a catch 22, without the businesses you don't get the people. Without the people you don't get the businesses.
We've got to look after our own local and small businesses. Sort out the towns and high streets, because every single town is dying and it's really not fair."
Changes to national insurance or income tax have reportedly been considered, though nothing has been confirmed.