Bath MP Wera Hobhouse stood up for local businesses following “unfair tax hikes” in the Autumn Budget with visits to mark Small Business Saturday.

Mrs Hobhouse visited local independent gym, TONIQ, and Boston Tea Party’s cafe in Kingsmead Square, to celebrate Small Business Saturday on Friday, December 6.

Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights the successes of small business and encourages consumers to 'shop local'. Up and down the country, the UK’s 5.8 million small businesses celebrated the campaign on Saturday, December 7.

Mrs Hobhouse has been firmly committed to supporting small businesses in Bath, particularly following the Chancellor’s decision to raise employer’s National Insurance contributions in the Autumn Budget. Since the announcement, she has criticised the government for burdening Bath’s businesses and pushed them to scrap the “unfair tax hike”.

On her visit to TONIQ, Wera Hobhouse spoke to Arron Collins-Thomas, the gym’s CEO, who told her that he was worried the Chancellor’s tax rise would add huge pressure to Bath’s small businesses, which could harm employees and local communities.

Wera Hobhouse MP outside the Boston Tea Party cafe in Bath.
Wera Hobhouse MP outside the Boston Tea Party cafe in Bath. (Wera Hobhouse)

Mrs Hobhouse said: “I’m glad that Small Business Saturday gives us an opportunity to recognise the wonderful contributions that small businesses in Bath make to our high streets. They really are the backbone of our local economy.

“That’s why I was so disappointed to see the Chancellor announce unfair tax hikes in the Budget, which risk putting Bath businesses under enormous strain. We know that the chaos left behind by the Conservatives' economic mismanagement urgently needs addressing – but it should not be up to local business owners to clean up their mess.

“I will keep fighting to ensure that local businesses are not forced to foot the bill for the Conservatives’ incompetence and can continue providing their great services to our community.”

Arron Collins-Thomas, owner of TONIQ, said: “The recent budget could seriously impact small wellness businesses like ours. We planned to expand TONIQ this year to create more jobs for Bath, but rising costs, especially from employer NI hikes, energy prices, and reduced business rate relief, are forcing us to reconsider.

“Our work educating and supporting our community into leading healthier lifestyles helps alleviate pressure on the NHS by promoting physical and mental wellbeing. But this budget risks stifling our ability to do this as well as grow, hire and increase wages.

“We urge the government to consider placing caps on tax increases for small businesses, particularly in sectors that contribute to public health and well-being.”

Sam Roberts, CEO and co-owner of the Boston Tea Party chain agreed, and said: “The budget was a bitter pill to swallow for hospitality. Just as we’re recovering from the pandemic, rampant inflation, the energy crisis and cost of living crisis, we’re now facing a tax on employing people. This adds huge costs to an already struggling sector.”