Rick Stein on Hospitality and Taxation
The chef Rick Stein shared insights with Graeme Green about his views on Masterchef, the criticism of 'Padstein', and the challenges facing the hospitality industry this Christmas.
Childhood Memories and Present Hopes
Reflecting on his youth, Stein recalls his favorite Christmas gift: a push-pedal car. "I was still tiny, and we were living in the Cotswolds. You sat in the car and pushed the two pedals, and went round and round the sitting room in it. I loved it." Those simpler times contrast with his current hopes for the hospitality industry.
Industry Challenges and Taxation
After seventy years, Stein's hope this year is for a practical gift from Keir Starmer, rather than Santa: a moratorium on VAT. He emphasizes the hardship facing hospitality, stating that 80,000 jobs have been lost in this sector over the past year.
“Things aren’t going well in our particular part of the industry.”
Stein tries to maintain a balanced view, acknowledging the need for government funding but criticizing current tax policies.
“What the government is trying to do, I guess, is to increase the tax situation by growth, but doing so by putting National Insurance up just stopped growth.”
He explains that rising taxes force businesses to reduce labor and avoid hiring unless absolutely necessary.
“If you’re faced with ever-increasing taxes, you’re going to cut back on labour wherever you can. You’re certainly not going to hire people unless you absolutely need to.”
Stein understands the nation's difficulties but calls the government's approach a “complete ‘home goal’” by targeting vulnerable parts of the economy.
Summary
Rick Stein highlights the severe impact of tax increases on the fragile hospitality sector, advocating for a VAT pause to support jobs and growth in challenging times.
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