Politics · United Kingdom · 23 hrs ago
Retail leaders to meet Chancellor ahead of first Budget
Chancellor John Healey is due to meet retail and hospitality leaders in Downing Street on Tuesday.
The meeting comes 17 days before he is expected to deliver his first Budget.
Retailers are concerned that a proposed tax on large warehouses could raise costs for supermarkets and other shops, not just online businesses.
They warn that higher costs could push up prices and contribute to shop closures.
The tax was designed to shift some of the burden away from high streets, while the government has promised lower business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues.
Reports say a further tax increase on warehouses has been ruled out, though the Treasury has declined to comment on proposals.
Healey faces limited room for Budget decisions, with borrowing costs high and his fiscal buffer put at £12 billion.
The Chancellor is due to meet retail and hospitality leaders in Downing Street on Tuesday, ahead of his first Budget.
Retailers are urging him not to impose further taxes and business costs, which they say have pushed up prices.
Marks & Spencer chief executive Stuart Machin said the last two Budgets were a disaster and called for policies that support growth.
John Lewis and Waitrose chairman Jason Tarry warned that a tax raid on department stores and supermarkets could lead to shop closures.
The Treasury said the Chancellor wants retailers to thrive and is focused on creating conditions for businesses to invest and expand.
- Who
- Chancellor John Healey is due to meet retail and hospitality leaders, including some business chiefs.
- What
- They are meeting ahead of the Chancellor’s first Budget, as retailers urge him not to impose further tax rises and costs.
- When
- Tuesday, according to the article. The Budget is due in 17 days, the article says.
- Where
- Downing Street.
- Why
- Retailers want to raise concerns about taxes and business costs before the Budget.
Retail leaders
The Government
Tax and business costs
Retail leaders
Retail leaders warn against further tax rises and costs, saying they push up prices and could harm businesses.
The Government
The Treasury says the Chancellor is focused on creating conditions for businesses to invest and expand.
Warehouse tax
Retail leaders
Retailers are concerned that a tax on larger warehouses could affect supermarkets and high-street businesses.
The Government
The article says the higher rate surcharge was intended to target online retailers and shift the tax burden away from physical high streets.
They were a disaster. Britain needed a plan for growth and got a pile of new taxes and regulations instead.
only harm our high streets
You're paying for a cheaper pint by loading costs on to the weekly shop
We want Britain's retailers to thrive, and the Chancellor has been clear that the way to tackle cost pressures in the long term is through growth
Machin said they added taxes and regulations and called them a disaster.
The Chancellor is due to meet retail and hospitality leaders in Downing Street.
The Chancellor is due to unveil his first Budget.
- Meeting place
- Downing Street
- Meeting day
- Tuesday
- Budget
- The Chancellor’s first Budget is due in 17 days
- Fiscal headroom
- £12 billion
- Warehouse surcharge threshold
- Rateable value above £500,000
- Daily Mail publication date
- 11 October 2026
Sources
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