A template press release on potential businesses closures after the Budget.
[TEMPLATE]: [COLUMN F] pubs in [LOCAL AUTHORITY] expected to close as Chancellor slashes business support in the Budget
With the passage of the Energy motion at Liberal Democrat Spring Conference, please see below for a template press release on potential businesses closures after the Budget.
Please use this spreadsheet to localise the release accordingly. Data is organised by local authority area.
This template is for use in England.
New analysis by the Liberal Democrats reveals that over [COLUMN F] pubs, restaurants and cafes are at risk of closure in [LOCAL AUTHORITY] following the Chancellor’s Budget last week.
The analysis also predicts that [COLUMN B] businesses will close across [REGION].
The Budget confirmed that business energy support will be slashed by 85% by moving from a cap on unit costs of electricity and gas to a discount covering a small proportion of the price.
According to the Federation of Small Businesses “one in four small firms anticipate either closing, downsizing, or radically changing their business model” when business support is slashed in April.
Liberal Democrat analysis shows that small and medium sized pubs, restaurants and cafes are facing an increase in bills of £231 million - around £[COLUMN E] in [LOCAL AUTHORITY] per business.
Liberal Democrats are calling for this energy support to be extended for at least six months longer.
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for [AREA], [NAME] said:
“What good is cutting the price of beer in pubs if there are no pubs left open? The Conservative Government is failing businesses who are facing the very real possibility of closing their doors this April.
“If the Tories actually understood hospitality businesses they would extend energy support for at least another six months as Liberal Democrats have called for.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The data is taken from NOMIS, an ONS service tracking labour market statistics.