Business Lobby Urges Chancellor to Slash Costs and Boost Youth Jobs Ahead of Budget Industry leaders and hospitality operators have banded together to press Chancellor John Healey for sweeping tax relief, higher National Insurance thresholds, and a VAT cut for the sector, arguing that Labour's recent budgets have stifled growth and left young workers in a tough spot. With the October 28 budget looming, the Confederation of British Industry, Marks & Spencer's chief, and celebrity chef Tom Kerridge are demanding immediate action to restore confidence, free up investment and provide clearer paths into work for Britain's youth. The Confederation of British Industry has issued a stark warning that the UK's economic future is at risk if the Chancellor fails to relax restrictive tax rules, particularly in the wake of the last two Labour budgets. Business Leaders Demand National Insurance CutsThe business lobby, represented by Chief Executive Rain Newton‑Smith, emphasised the urgent need to raise the National Insurance threshold to around £6,000. This would lower hiring costs for firms, restore cash flow to small and medium enterprises and, according to Newton‑Smith, act as a catalyst for job creation, investment and macro‑economic stability. The call for change came after prominent business figures, most notably Stuart Machin, CEO of Marks & Spencer, labelled the recent fiscal packages a 'disaster'.In a scathing Daily Mail column, Machin highlighted the hike in National Insurance from 13.8% to 15%, coupled with a dramatic drop in the threshold from £9,100 to £5,000. He urged the Chancellor to immediately reverse what he calls "Reeves' mistakes" and to funnel more money back into consumers' pockets, thereby boosting overall growth.Hospitality Sector Pushes For VAT ReductionThe hospitality sector has also stepped forward, with celebrity chef Tom Kerridge leading a petition demanding a slash in sales tax on restaurants, hotels and pubs from the current 20% down to 10%. Over 400,000 signatures, including many from prominent pub chains and culinary groups, were presented to 10 Downing Street in anticipation of the budget.Kerridge, a familiar face on programmes such as Saturday Kitchen and Bake Off, argued that a VAT cut would support the industry's transition from closures to openings, translating lost jobs into new opportunities. He further pointed out that the UK lags behind European peers-France, Italy, Spain and Ireland-which already offer lower VAT rates on hospitality.Industries Highlight Economic Strain From TaxesThe message from both the CBI and the hospitality lobby is clear: high compliance costs, steep National Insurance contributions, and a hefty business rates regime are strangling the backbone of Britain's economy. In the words of CBI Chief Executive Rachel Reeves-though not directly quoted, but implied in the narrative-the current policy mix "has eroded confidence and stifled investment".On the shopfront side, a coalition of retailers, led by the Retail Jobs Alliance and backed by the trade union Usdaw, is demanding a protective blanket for physical stores against the looming "National Insurance tax raid" slated to hit brick‑and‑mortar commerce. Major retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Asda, B&Q and Primark, which together employ nearly a million workers, are calling for a blanket exemption from a potential rise in business rates.Retailers Seek Protection From Business Rates RiseThe collective appeal of industry leaders emphasizes that the political and fiscal direction taken by the new government will have far-reaching repercussions on everyday consumers, pension holders and the broader labour market. With the budget's release set for 28 October, the businesses are calling for pre‑emptive measures that address the "young unemployment crisis", ease the cost of hiring, and simplify the tax infrastructure.All parties are united in their message that it is easier to plan for the future when uncertainty is reduced. They hope the Chancellor's next audit will "get Britain growing by taking the handcuffs off business, and putting money back in people's pockets" and that this will manifest in concrete policy adjustments that restore confidence, liberate investment and set the stage for a resilient job market.The conversation is not limited to the CBI or hospitality; it reflects a broader lobbying effort with the backing of high‑profile individuals, unions, trade groups, and public petition campaigns. As the UK edges closer to the budget date, the overarching demand from the business community is that tax cuts, especially on National Insurance and VAT for hospitality, and a clear strategy to protect high‑street shops be adopted to stanch economic decline and unlock new entry‑level roles for young people across the country.