Deputy First Minister Jennifer Gilruth has written to the UK Government backing a campaign for a VAT cut for the hospitality sector.
Ms Gilruth has offered the Scottish Government’s support to an industry-wide open letter to Downing Street asking that VAT is cut by half to 10% to save jobs and establishments.
A petition drawn up by #VATsTheProblem was signed by prominent figures such as restaurateurs Tom Kitchin and Tom Kerridge, as well as Cameron White of Hotel Indigo, Princes Street, Edinburgh.
On behalf of the SNP MSP Calum Kerr said: “We are proud to stand behind that campaign with the Deputy First Minister.”
Mr Kitchin said: “It’s fantastic to see the Scottish Government and the SNP put their full support behind the #VATsTheProblem campaign and join our calls for hospitality VAT to be reduced to 10%, in line with Europe.
“We saw just last week the enormous support from across Scottish hospitality for a fairer VAT rate for the sector and you only need to look at the 390,000 supporters the campaign has amassed to understand just how many people believe it is necessary to support their local hospitality venues.
“I hope we will see the other political parties in Scotland and MSPs back the campaign, as well as Scottish MPs, to put even more pressure on the UK Government to act.”
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