MP and UKHospitality join forces to call for Chancellor to back Cumbrian businesses ahead of next week’s Autumn Statement

Local MP Tim Farron and the UK’s hospitality trade body, UKHospitality, are urging the Chancellor to increase support for local Cumbrian businesses in next week’s budget.

They are calling on the Government to continue with the 75% reduction in business rates for hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses which is set to end in March.

They are also pushing for a reduction in VAT for these businesses and for more investment in skills to tackle the staffing crisis that many businesses are experiencing.

New figures from UKHospitality show that hospitality is a significant part of the local economy in Westmorland and Lonsdale, delivering £456 million to the economy as a whole and employing 13,097 people.

Tim said: “I am incredibly proud of Cumbria's world-class hospitality sector which is a vital part of our economy.

“However when I speak to many of these businesses they are really struggling to recruit the staff they need, while at the same time being hammered by VAT.

“We are looking to the Chancellor to show that he really values the importance of Cumbria’s hospitality and tourism industry to the UK economy by backing local businesses in his budget next Wednesday.”