The boss of Wetherspoons has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to slash taxes – by levelling the playing field between shops and pubs.
Tim Martin praised Reeves’ ‘Bank of England pedigree’ and said he hoped she would help hospitality venues.
Martin has long complained supermarkets pay no VAT on food while pubs pay 20 per cent.
Plea: Wetherspoon boss Sir Tim Martin (pictured) has called on the Labour government to level the playing field between the shops and pubs
‘The last government failed to implement tax equality between pubs and supermarkets, leading to pub closures and underinvestment,’ he said.
‘Wetherspoons hopes the Chancellor will understand how many beans make five, and rectify this inequality.’
The group said sales hit ‘record levels’ this year. In the ten weeks to July 7, they were up 5.8 per cent.
Bumper trading also came despite it getting rid of 26 pubs this year.
The company had as many as 950 in 2015. Annual profits are expected to be around £75million.
Shares fell 2 per cent, or 15.5p, to 753p
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