Furious Pub Owner Slams Angela Rayner Over £400k Tax Hit: ‘You Don’t Care About Us!

Pub owners are set to question MPs this week about the challenges they face, including rising taxes and stricter regulations.

Angela Rayner has been criticized by pub owner Philip Thorley, who says his business, Thorley Taverns, which owns 18 pubs, is struggling under heavy financial pressure. Mr. Thorley told the BBC that his tax bill will increase by £400,000 due to current government policies, threatening the future of his business.

He also expressed concerns about Ms. Rayner’s proposed Employment Rights Bill, which he believes will discourage hiring. He explained, “First-day employment rights will mean we hire fewer people. There’s no incentive to hire young workers anymore if employers don’t have time to properly assess if someone is a good fit for the role.”

Mr. Thorley also criticized the opposition to zero-hours contracts, explaining that his business often offers extra shifts during busy periods like Christmas. If the new legislation requires those hours to become permanent, it will no longer be feasible for his pubs to offer them.

Pub owners are also worried about new rules requiring businesses to protect staff from harassment by third parties, such as customers. Brian Whiting, CEO of WH Pubs, explained, “We can control our customers’ behavior to an extent, but we can’t control everything they say. If people can sue over offensive comments they overhear, it will put landlords in an impossible position.”

Later this week, publicans will meet with MPs in Parliament to discuss these issues and push for changes to ease the pressure on their industry.