‘A missed opportunity for hospitality sector’, warns UUP candidate

Matthew Robinson, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly candidate for East Londonderry, has warned that the Labour Chancellor’s recent Autumn Budget “represents a missed opportunity to provide meaningful support to our hospitality sector in the constituency”.

Mr Robinson added: “At a time when pubs, restaurants, cafés and hotels are struggling with rising operating costs, the Labour Government should have delivered a dedicated cut in hospitality VAT.

“Instead, businesses are being left to contend with one of the highest rates of hospitality taxation in Europe.

“Across the border in the Republic of Ireland, VAT on restaurant and catering services has been reduced to just 9%. In Germany, the rate on restaurant food is 7%, while France, Italy and Spain apply rates of 10%.

“Yet here in Northern Ireland and especially in East Londonderry, our hospitality businesses continue to face a staggering 20%.

“That is an enormous competitive disadvantage, particularly for businesses operating along the North Coast given the importance of the hospitality sector in our constituency.

“Hospitality and tourism are the lifeblood of the North Coast economy. From our independent cafés and restaurants in Coleraine and Limavady to the hotels, pubs and hospitality businesses in Portstewart and Portrush, these are businesses that create jobs, support local suppliers and sustain our communities.

“We should be doing everything possible to help them grow and prosper, not placing unnecessary obstacles in their way. If elected to the Assembly, this is a key issue that I would be using my role as an MLA to radically address.

“A reduction in hospitality VAT to 10% would provide much-needed breathing space for businesses to invest, recruit and remain competitive.

“The Labour Government talks endlessly about economic growth, but growth cannot simply be delivered through speeches and slogans.

“It requires practical decisions that allow businesses to thrive. Our hospitality sector deserves a fairer deal, and I will continue to champion the interests of those businesses across East Londonderry,” said Mr Robinson.