Fears that ‘beating heart’ of Scottish high streets could be ‘ripped away’ ahead of Budget 

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget next week, Susan Murray, Liberal Democrat Scottish Affairs spokesperson and MP for Mid Dunbartonshire, has warned that the ‘beating heart’ of high streets across the area is at risk of being ‘ripped away’, as devastating polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has shown there is widespread concern that hospitality businesses will close.

The revelation comes a year after Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered a National Insurance tax hike that hammered small businesses, leaving high streets across Mid Dunbartonshire at breaking point.

Polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats shows that across Scotland, 54% of people are concerned about their local pub closing and 44% think that bars and nightclubs might be lost. Similarly, 60% are concerned that cafes and restaurants may close and 47% show worry that they will lose their local hairdresser.

This damning picture shows the significant concern across Mid Dunbartonshire on the survival of high streets.

Ms Murray has visited a number of local hospitality businesses such as Elements restaurant in Bearsden who have consistently highlighted the crippling effects of high VAT and the impact of the UK Government increasing employer's national insurance.

Last week, the Liberal Democrats announced new calls for an emergency 5% VAT cut for hospitality to be put in place until April 2027. Deputy Leader and Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper led her party’s call for a £7.5 billion life raft for the UK’s pubs and restaurants ahead of what is expected to be yet another doom and gloom Budget next week.

Susan Murray, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dunbartonshire, said:

“Across Scotland, hospitality is the beating heart of our high streets, but pubs, restaurants, cafes and more are at serious risk of being taken away from us - no wonder residents are so concerned.

“Not only are mid-morning coffees, after work pints and weekend cocktails quickly becoming an unaffordable luxury for many across our area, but soon they may not even be an option.

“With the Chancellor’s damaging jobs tax and people having less money to spend, independent hospitality businesses in our towns just cannot sustain themselves. It is absolutely devastating.

“The Chancellor cannot deliver another doom and gloom Budget that risks further decline for people in Mid Dunbartonshire and across Scotland. She’s clearly out of ideas, so she needs to listen to the Liberal Democrats’ plan to save our high streets – paid for by the big banks’ profits.”