VAT petition with more than 400,000 names reaches Downing Street
Tom Kerridge and the heads of UKHospitality, the BBPA and the BII handed it in two weeks before the Budget, asking for hospitality VAT at 10%.
The #VATsTheProblem petition has been delivered to 10 Downing Street, The Morning Advertiser reports. It passed 400,000 signatures earlier this week and stood at 403,167 when MA published.
Tom Kerridge, who leads the campaign, handed it in with UKHospitality chief executive Allen Simpson, BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin and BII chief executive Steve Alton.
The ask The campaign wants VAT on hospitality cut from 20% to 10%. Its backers argue that would relieve the strain on the trade, save jobs and slow the rate of closures. It has support from UKHospitality and JD Wetherspoon's Sir Tim Martin, and last month the Scottish Government and the SNP also backed it after pressure from more than 100 Scottish chefs and operators.
The timing The autumn Budget is about two weeks away. Campaigners hope the petition builds on the Prime Minister's support for hospitality, and say the push carries on until then. MA's report doesn't say how the Treasury has responded.
What it means for operators: a cut of that size would reset menu pricing, margin targets and investment cases across a group. It's worth having both scenarios modelled before Budget day, one with the rate held at 20% and one with a reduction, so the board conversation starts from numbers rather than headlines.
Source: The Morning Advertiser (opens in a new tab)
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