At least 300,000 retail jobs are set for the chopping block over the next three years, thanks to Reeves’ unsustainable cost hikes, the Retail Jobs Alliance has warned the Treasury. The group—which includes retail giants Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, and Kingfisher—says one in ten shop floor workers could be forced out of the sector by 2028…
It’s yet another dire warning from the industry, which is staring down “a perfect storm” of soaring costs from April. The group is calling on the government to exempt stores from the higher rate business rates multiplier—without it, the toxic mix of higher national insurance bills and crippling business rates will gut the sector, wiping out hundreds of thousands of jobs by 2030. M&S boss Stuart Machin didn’t hold back over the weekend saying, “Retail is being raided like a piggy bank, and it’s unacceptable. The Budget means UK retail will get smaller.” Reeves’ so-called Growth Agenda seen in action…
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”