Keir Starmer and the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, have refused to rule out a rise in employer contributions in the budget on 30 October, as part of plans to plug what ministers say is a £22bn hole in the public finances left by the Conservative government.
The head of UK Hospitality, which represents businesses, said such a move would be a tax on jobs. "An increase would particularly hammer sectors like hospitality, where staffing costs are the biggest business expense," said Kate Nicholls, the group's chief executive.
This story is from the October 16, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the October 16, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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