Tim Martin voices support for Reform tax plans

J D Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has voiced his support for an industry tax overhaul muted by the political party Reform UK. 

In a press release issued on Monday 9 February, Martin called on the rest of the hospitality industry to do the same.

Reform's proposals include a 10% cut to beer duty, as well as a reduction in VAT across the hospitality sector. It also said it would halve the standard 20% VAT rate charged to pubs, hotels and restaurants.

"There’s no question that this initiative would utterly transform the competitiveness of pubs, which have lost 50% of their beer trade to supermarkets since the millennium, according to analysts at bankers Morgan Stanley," says Martin.

"By eliminating the tax differential between supermarkets and the hospitality industry, and restoring margins to devastated businesses, these changes would enable pubs to regain some, or all, of their lost trade.

"The principle in question is that the beleaguered hospitality industry needs to get behind whatever organisation or political party promises a fair and equitable tax regime.

"If you do believe in tax equality, then you’d better support it, because the supermarket industry has nicked half your trade in recent years - and it will gobble up most of the rest in no time flat."

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