The owner of Barbakan deli in Chorlton has threatened to ban MPs from her venues, saying hospitality businesses feel 'dehumanised' after the Autumn Budget and recent comments by a Treasury minister.
Frankie Dyer, who also runs a smaller site in Wilmslow, appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain today (November 4) to speak out after Chancellor John Healey delivered his first Autumn Budget last week. Healey said the Budget would give households and businesses “breathing space” from everyday costs, and it included announcements on relief on rateable value.
However, many in the hospitality sector said the measures did not go far enough and had ignored campaigns for wider support amid rising wages and increasing operating costs.
Reaction to Treasury minister's comments
Earlier this week, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds faced criticism after remarking that she 'didn't think employers are working people'. She later corrected herself, acknowledging that 'the brilliant men and women across the country who run small businesses are working people' and recognised their 'contribution to our local economies'.
Dyer said the minister's comments felt like 'kicking someone when they're down'. She said: “We've been campaigning for years now for fairness for business owners up and down the country across all sectors. We got absolutely nothing in the budget despite what they say and then the Chief Secretary to the Treasury says we're not working people. We're some of the hardest working people I know.”
Presenter Susanna Reid asked Dyer if she felt 'betrayed' by what ministers think of employers. The bakery owner said she was 'not surprised' by their comments and felt 'dehumanised'. She added: “It's like we're not people, we're not working people so let's just add another tax onto them because they're just companies, they're not real working people.”
Rising costs for the business
Dyer said she felt the previous Conservative government was 'more business friendly', recalling that her National Insurance contributions had gone from £42,000 two years ago to £80,000 now, and her business rates had risen from £9,000 to £36,000.
She said: “In this current economic system, it is totally hostile, there is no balance. My business rates, my National Insurance contribution is just too much. Everything is just too expensive right now, it's too expensive to employ people.”
Warning of consequences
Dyer, who wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister last month urging him to give hospitality a 'fighting chance', said hospitality businesses will meet next week to discuss critical next steps for the sector. She warned that MPs across the country could be banned from venues if relief was not given.
She added: “On behalf of small businesses everywhere, you cannot keep ignoring us. We asked for fairness in the recent budget, we were completely shunned. We got nothing, despite what you think you've given us.
“It's gotten to a point now where hospitality voices up and down the country are not willing to take it anymore. We're going to the Hospitality Summit on Tuesday, and we are considering a nationwide ban on all MPs for all hospitality venues and also we will not be paying our VAT bill going forward.”
Referring to a major House of Commons general debate focused on the hospitality sector next week, she added: “You have a big meeting on November 12 in parliament and we expect action taken on the 13th of November or there will be consequences.”
