Rachel Reeves’ punishing Budget leaves pubs on the brink and communities poorer for it

Doom at the inn

MANY of the horrors inflicted on the country by Rachel Reeves’ latest Budget were immediately apparent.

For starters, she didn’t even attempt to disguise the fact she was hammering strivers who go out to work in order to lavish an extra £16billion on benefits.

When it comes to pubs, however, we are only now learning the full extent of the hit to a sector already on its knees.

A shake-up of business rates means the average pub will be forced to pay an extra £1,400 — all while luxury department stores Selfridges and Harrods see their rates CUT.

Pubs and other businesses have also seen “muted” spending caused by customers living in fear of what the Government might tax next.

All of which is in addition to the hike in the cost of employers’ National Insurance and the two huge hikes to the minimum wage which have made hiring bar staff so expensive.

Once, Labour would have understood the vital role which our pubs play in local communities.

The party’s current incarnation either doesn’t know — or simply doesn’t care.

The same is true of the way it has slapped new taxes on anything which constitutes having fun — from milkshakes to having a flutter on the football.

Sadly, there will be real-world consequences to all of this in the form of more boarded-up bookies in the High Street, and more pubs closing their doors for the final time.

Expect Labour to face a Last Orders of its own not long after.

Ward shame

NHS maternity services are even worse than thought, according to an independent expert looking at the appalling care suffered by pregnant women.

Scandals have come and gone, official reports have been published and 748 official recommendations have been made — yet nothing has changed.

Last year, a staggering £1.3billion was paid out in compensation — making it the single biggest cost out of the £3.1billion bill for medical negligence.

Not only does this sum represent avoidable tragedy and distress for all those affected. It’s an appalling waste of taxpayers’ money.

NHS chiefs — who, let’s not forget, have spent years fretting over woke pro-trans guidance about “pregnant people” — must urgently sort it out.

Or make way for those that can.

Same old Huw

HUW Edwards is a predator and a paedophile who has caused immeasurable harm to the lives of vulnerable young people.

It is sickeningly arrogant that he’s apparently already plotting a comeback with a slick new social media image.

It’s also yet another insult to his victims.