UK Spring Budget 2021: 'I said I would do whatever it takes, I have done and I will do'

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the UK budget for 2021, his umpteenth fiscal announcement since he took office in February last year. Measures include an extension of the furlough scheme and £18,000 in grants for businesses unable to reopen due to restrictions.

As some restrictions will remain in place at least until June 21st, the consequences of Covid-19 will drag out further still, and many businesses will rely on support measures to see them back through to profitability. 

In his address to the House of Commons, the Chancellor said: "I said I would do whatever it takes, I have done and I will do." 

Continuing to support British people and businesses is of upmost priority, he said, but the question of how to balance the nation's books will need to be addressed in due course too.

Expecting a faster economic recovery than previous forecasts, he said, this was only possible thanks to the measures put in place to protect jobs and livelihoods, and for this reason, he would continue to make them a priority.

Which measures in the budget will affect hospitality?

• The first measure to be extended is the furlough scheme, which will now last until September, with contributions from employers expected from July (10%, followed by 20% in August and September).
• Access to the self-employed scheme increased to include 600,000 more people as eligibility criteria have been updates.
• Business rates relief, which was waived for businesses in hospitality, leisure, and retail at the offset of the pandemic, will continue until June, after which it will be reduced to two thirds of original levels for the remainder of the year.
• The latest support mechanism rolled out as of today is a £5bn fund for high street pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops that have had to stay closed because of the lockdown, with grants of up to £6,000 per establishment to help non-essential retailers reopen safely. As for those who must remain closed until later in the year - hospitality businesses, hotels, gyms, as well as personal care and leisure firms -  they will be eligible for up to £18,000 per site.

Paying for this, as well as extending public services and welfare spending, will likely cost us dearly in taxes in the coming years, as the government has borrowed more than £300 billion in the past year to support the economy - putting the UK's outstanding debt at £2.3bn. 

• The 5% VAT for hospitality will be extended for six months to 30th September, followed by an interim rate of 12.5% for another six months, and the standard rate reintroduced in April next year. 
• Another £150m has been set aside for the creation of a Community Ownership Fund, whereby community groups will be entitled to apply for a £250,000 grant to save struggling pubs or other community assets. The cash-matched initiative will allow organisations to double their money if they raise funds to save the asset in question, with a £1m bid for 'exceptional circumstances.' 

• Other measures included an extension of the Universal Credit £20 weekly payout, 

•  An increase in the National Living Wage to to £8.91 from 1 April 2021
• And an alcohol duty freeze for an unspecified duration
• A £520 million initiative to support small UK businesses with training and software, the Help to Grow scheme, which the Chancellor believes "will boost productivity around the country." 

Nothing in this life is free

Though the Chancellor said he had "to be honest about challenges facing the country" with the roll-out of tax increases in due course, former Prime Minister David Cameron warned against any corporation tax rises, comparing the current period to wartime.

Meanwhile former Chancellor Philip Hammond said that balancing the nation's finances should remain a priority, or else it would become harder to re-establish the government's relationship with citizens - despite the government's desire for short-term popularity.

So as to avoid debt "rising indefinitely," Rishi Sunak said in his speech, as "it would be irresponsible to let our debt rise unchecked," the government would use the “full measure of our fiscal firepower,” with incrementally increasing interest rates and corporation tax - only from the point at which the economy has recovered, aiming to reach 25% by 2023.

National Insurance, VAT and income tax will not be affected yet, with the latter guaranteed to remain at the same level until 2026.

Reactions

While some of the support measures - namely, the extension of the furlough scheme and the introduction of additional grants - received praise from within the hospitality industry, for others, measures continue to fall short of meeting the sector's needs.

Thanks @RishiSunak Business reopening grants, nice idea but sadly its just pocket money! ‘Surface - Scratch - Doesn’t even’ @UKHospKate @seatat_thetable https://t.co/kq5LieYOKI

— Robin Hutson (@RobinHutson) March 1, 2021

Would have like to hear 5% VAT cut extended to April 2022 as well as the 100% business rates reprieve. This would have meant better bounce back for those of us who have been closed since October 2020. However I think we should be positive it could have been worse. What do think?

— Parkers Arms (@parkersarms) March 3, 2021

Well done @RishiSunak !

— Damian Wawrzyniak #stayhome (@ChefConsultant) March 3, 2021

Budget 2021: business rates holiday for #pubs only till June, then 2/3 for the rest of the financial year, which is disappointing.

— Campaign for Pubs (@CampaignforPubs) March 3, 2021

Business rates 100% holiday extended to June then 2/3 for remainder of the financial year is helpful but many in hospitality will not be open before 21 June and so this remains a challenge unless Government helps with routemap out of rent debt.

— Kate Nicholls (@UKHospKate) March 3, 2021

Overall a supportive package for hospitality recovery - VAT, business rates relief, grants and furlough all extended and we hope that this will be kept under review as we reopen and recover

— Kate Nicholls (@UKHospKate) March 3, 2021