Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been told she is no longer welcome at a pub in her own constituency, as a landlord takes a stand against government tax policies he says are devastating the hospitality sector.
Landlord's Protest Over Soaring Business Rates
Martin Knowles, the landlord of The Marsh Inn in Pudsey, Leeds, has explicitly banned all Labour MPs from his premises. This decisive action came after he was hit with a £2,500 increase in his business rates bill. Mr Knowles stated he felt compelled to impose the ban because the government is "not doing our industry any favours at all."
The move is particularly striking given that the Chancellor was photographed smiling alongside Mr Knowles in his pub just last July, shortly after Labour's election victory. Now, a sign on the door makes the new policy clear.
A Sector Under Severe Pressure
The ban highlights a much wider crisis engulfing British pubs. Industry figures point to a perfect storm of spiralling costs, including rising National Insurance contributions and increases to the minimum wage, on top of the business rates hike. These combined pressures are pushing hundreds of establishments to the brink.
Recent data reveals the scale of the problem: nearly three pubs a week closed for good in the six months to October. This represents an alarming 85% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Estimates suggest a further 2,000 pubs could be forced to shut in the coming year if the government does not alter its course.
Melanie Knowles, the landlord's wife, emphasised the daily struggle, noting that many publicans are "not even breaking even" and are being forced to hand back the keys. She attributed part of the problem to the cost-of-living crisis, which is causing customers to cut back on socialising.
National Backlash and Government Response
The protest at The Marsh Inn is not an isolated incident. High-profile publicans like TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson have also displayed 'No Labour MPs' signs at their venues, citing "astronomical" rises in business rates. The Britannia pub in Ms Reeves's constituency, where she was also pictured last year, has publicly called on her to "support pubs rather than taxing them to death."
Industry leaders have issued stark warnings. Emma McClarkin of the British Beer and Pub Association said new "sky-high" rates have left publicans "at their wits' end," while Dawn Hopkins of the Campaign for Pubs accused the government of being "in complete denial."
Despite the outcry, the Chancellor has refused to rule out further tax rises in the future. In a recent interview, she cited global volatility and declined to write "future Budgets" now. The Treasury, while declining to comment on the specific ban, pointed to a £4.3 billion support package and other measures like maintaining a cut to draught alcohol duty.
For landlords like Martin Knowles, the message to the Chancellor is simple: to regain her welcome, she must lower VAT and PAYE, halt further increases to the minimum wage, and stop business rates from going "through the roof." Until then, the ban remains firmly in place.
