Chef Mitch Tonks calls for VAT cut to spur economy

Mitch Tonks claimed the current sales tax took away a fifth of the cost of his food

Devon-based celebrity chef Mitch Tonks has claimed a cut in VAT would help spur the economy.

The owner of the Rockfish chain said politicians had "zero connection" with small businesses.

He added the sales tax currently meant a fifth of the prices he charged went to the exchequer.

It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared last month that VAT – along with income tax and national insurance – would not rise in her budget.

Industry 'already hard work'

"You never hear any [politicians] talking about the every day economy and the small businesses that we’re surrounded by that really make the country tick,” said Mr Tonks.

"People don’t realise that if they see something in a restaurant for £20, and they think it’s expensive, that £4 of that goes to the government.

"If you reduced VAT by half, three things would happen.

"The restaurant would earn more money and the owners might keep it and pay tax on it; or they would employ more people because they’ve got money to open more places, and guess what, they’d pay more tax; or they would give staff a pay rise to keep them, and guess what, they’d pay more tax."

Mr Tonks said high taxes made it "harder and harder for an industry that’s already hard work".

"I can’t understand how the people who are meant to be running our country have zero-connection with the everyday economy," he added.