Top News

A hairdresser infuriated by tax hikes has banned Labour MPs from attending his salon. Alan Simpson, who owns a shop in Guisborough, North Yorkshire, said he is being "taxed out of business" and called on the Government to "listen to the challenges we are facing and do something about it".

Mr Simpson said his local MP Luke Myer, along with other Labour MPs, have been banned permanently until the Government makes changes to help the sector. It comes after more than 1,000 pub landlords across the country barred Labour MPs from their premises in response to business rate increases, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves seemingly poised to announce a U-turn following the backlash. Mr Simpson, who has been a hairdresser for 38 years, said the industry is facing rising costs from a number of directions.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LRDS), he said: "Business rates are killing us, along with the rise in employer's national insurance contributions. There's energy costs, increases in the price of stock, and we are still paying back Covid-19 loans."

Mr Simpson is the founder of a group of hairdressing shops called Contemporary Salons, with each site operating as an individual franchise.

In total, 55 people are employed as part of the franchise across seven salons in North Yorkshire and the north-east.

Mr Simpson said some hairdressers are no longer hiring trainees due to soaring costs and called on the Government to provide "more support and funding".

Mr Simpson said he contacted Mr Myer, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, "numerous" times in a bid to share concerns over issues impacting the hairdressing sector.

The salon owner said after months of trying, he was told in September last year that responses to some of the problems raised were still being sought.

Last month, he was invited to meet the MP at a constituency surgery, however Mr Simpson said he preferred to meet him at his salon and the date offered had not been possible.

The MP's office confirmed Mr Simpson had been offered a one-to-one meeting on December 12 at a constituency surgery.

His office added they had previously spoken to Mr Simpson about pressures on the hairdressing sector and attempted to raise his concerns with ministers.

Mr Myer told the LDRS: "He [Mr Simpson] is right that it has become far too difficult for many businesses to balance rising costs, while continuing to offer jobs and apprenticeships.

"These challenges should be taken seriously - and that's why I raised these concerns with ministers, so the experiences of local hairdressers are properly understood. There is still more to do to help high streets adapt and succeed, including changes to business rates, and I will keep pressing for practical solutions that reflect the realities faced by local businesses."

A Government spokesman said: "We're backing the high street with a £4.3bn support package to limit business rate bill rises, alongside capping corporation tax at 25%, cutting red tape and investing £1.5bn to create 50,000 more apprentices and foundation apprenticeships."