Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Dan Tomlinson was mocked by MPs at the Treasury Committee this morning for suggesting only outlier businesses would be hit by Labour’s business rate hike. Tomlinson claimed to Meg Hillier:
“We know that there are only 1% of retail, hospitality and leisure properties who are seeing their bill go up by more than 100% this year. So, the one that you’re referring to your shop in your constituency, he’s a relative outlier, because only 1% of businesses are seeing their bills go up by more than 100% this year if they’re not increasing from zero.”
Tomlinson went on to claim that Labour would pursue a ‘High Streets Strategy’ and look at “big picture long-term changes.” Asked what the timeline was for that, he said: “We are, uhm ehm, we will… I’m expecting [before the budget]”…
Hillier added: “One bakery in my patch I went to visit the other week, they’re taking two to three days to raise the same amount as they did a year ago. So this is the challenge.” At which point Siobhain McDonagh chimed in: “I’m not going across the road and telling Kevin that he’s an outlier”…
Hillier again: “I think, Minister, you’re going to get invitations from members of this committee to visit our constituency in high streets so we look forward to greeting you.” He’ll probably be getting a few four-letter reviews of the government’s performance….
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”