Do These Politicians Ever Listen to Real People?
A post by my mate Donald Macleod MBE - owner of Glasgow’s Garage and Cat House late night venues.
“I’m deeply disappointed that the Chancellor failed to introduce a reduced VAT rate for hospitality, bringing it in line with other European countries. Equally, I had hoped she would reverse her disastrous, business-busting Employers’ NI policy. Alongside above-inflation rises to minimum and living wages, this has significantly increased contributions, resulting in over 100,000 job losses, hundreds of closures, higher prices, and reduced investment.
“I welcome the measures south of the border, where a package of business rates reforms will permanently lower rates for hospitality operators. I can only hope the Scottish Government follows suit, though given their past reluctance to grant rates relief, I fear it may never happen. I am also concerned that further above-inflation increases to minimum and living wages will push many struggling operators to raise prices again just to meet their wage bills.
“This was not a budget for business growth. It was a budget designed to placate backbenchers with hikes in welfare payments - a budget seemingly aimed at saving the political skins of Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer, rather than supporting the hospitality sector or wider enterprise.”
Donald Macleod
Glasgow, November 2025.
It’s a disaster Mike typical Labour hash up
Not a single day since they took power has there not been anything positive said about this shambles of an unprepared, have not got a clue Government. Today is another one of those bad news days. A self serving Budget, appeasing their back benchers that want to sack Starmer, A self serving Budget to try and turn the people of Wales and Scotland and former Labour supporters in England away from Reform. Not a day goes by without Nigel Farage being slandered, accused of allsorts by Labour or Lib Dems and even the Conservatives. It is shocking. The positive of today, although I don't like her, was Kemi Badenoch. She tore Rachel from Accounts a new one, and rightly said what we we all are thinking SHE IS TOAST!