<\/p>\n
Stephen Montgomery: \u2018why can\u2019t we halt the revaluation?\u2019<\/p>\n
Hospitality leader Stephen Montgomery used a hustings event to claim that soaring business rates are creating \u201ctumbleweed\u201d areas across Scotland.<\/p>\n
Mr Montgomery, director of the Scottish Hospitality Group, reiterated calls for Holyrood to follow the example of the Northern Ireland assembly by temporarily halting a controversial revaluation which came into effect on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy can\u2019t we halt the revaluation of rates right now?\u201d he demanded as members of the 300-strong audience at RBS Gogarburn joined the calls for action to stop crippling rises of up to 500%.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt needs changing before you lose more businesses,\u201d said Mr Montgomery. \u201cIf we don\u2019t have surviving businesses, you\u2019re going to have no tax take whatsoever.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy question really comes down to this \u2013 if we see the continuation of businesses closing, will the Scottish Government take the blame when there\u2019s more unemployment, more high street shops and pubs shut, and we\u2019re a tumbleweed area?\u201d<\/p>\n
He was speaking at a leaders\u2019 panel organised by the CBI, IoD, FSB, Prosper and Scottish Chambers of Commerce<\/p>\n
First Minister John Swinney, one of six party leaders at the event, responded that the hike in National Insurance Contributions \u2013 by the Labour government \u201chad a greater impact than business rates\u201d. <\/p>\n
John Swinney: \u2018NICs are a bigger problem than rates\u2019<\/p>\n
He said the government was providing a package of relief measures worth \u00a3900m to help businesses offset non-domestic rates.<\/p>\n
His reply prompted a disdainful response from Reform UK leader Malcolm Offord who said it showed \u201cthe reality that very few politicians understand business, or have ever had to make payroll\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cScotland is underperforming. We need policies that make the economy thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n
All the other party leaders called for a review of business rates which, according to a survey from the Scottish Chambers of Commerce this week, has risen up the list of concerns among businesses.<\/p>\n
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the reliefs offered by the Scottish Government \u201cdo not touch the sides, we need a pause\u201d.<\/p>\n
Alex Cole-Hamilton and Anas Sarwar<\/p>\n
Green Party co-leader Ross Greer said the the focus of reliefs should be on spin-outs. Alex Cole-Hamilton for the Lib-Dems said: \u201cYou should not be disincentivised to refurbish your premises, while Tory leader Russell Findlay said the rates system is \u201ccompletely broken\u201d.<\/p>\n
Other trade groups, including the Scottish Retail Consortium, have called for the Scottish government to follow Northern Ireland\u2019s example.<\/p>\n
After the event, Mr Swinney refused to comment further. \u201cI\u2019ve said all I want to say on the matter,\u201d he replied, when approached by Daily Business.<\/p>\n
Mr Montgomery asked why many small businesses were not paying any rates while larger businesses were not getting relief. That was not encouraging businesses to invest and expand.<\/p>\n
Russell Findlay, Ross Greer and Malcolm Offord<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn Swinney fudged the answer,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is no incentive at the moment to grow from one unit to two or three.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, added: \u201cIt is clear that business rates need to change quickly. The politicians need to understand the balance sheet of business.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michelle Ferguson, CBI Scotland director, said: \u201cWhoever forms the next government must put forward a realistic, ambitious and deliverable plan to kick\u2011start Scotland\u2019s stalled economy and set the country back on a path to long\u2011term, sustainable growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWarm words in an election campaign are easy \u2013 delivery is what counts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe expect Scotland\u2019s political leaders to commit to working in genuine partnership with business to drive investment, growth and competitiveness. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe CBI stands ready to hold their feet to the fire to ensure that promises made to the business community during the campaign are delivered in full.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t #Rates #increases #prompt #tumbleweed #warning #Daily #Business<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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