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 | Cumbria Times A Voice of the Free Press |
1:00 AM 27th November 2025
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Budget Round Up 2025
“Introducing a tourist tax in the UK would add to the already high tax burden faced by businesses and visitors. While many European destinations have similar charges, they benefit from much lower VAT rates so the overall cost to tourists and operators remains significantly lower. Implementing a UK tourist tax would simply push prices higher, increase inflation, and place additional pressure on businesses that are already struggling with high operating costs.
“At the same time, the failure to deliver a VAT reduction on food and beverage means UK holidaymakers are paying more during a time when their own household budgets are under pressure. A lower VAT rate would have helped to ease cost pressures, keep prices affordable and support much needed demand across the sector.
“Coastal towns are the backbone of the UK’s tourism industry, yet they face unique challenges, including seasonal fluctuations and infrastructure needs. This budget does little to recognise their specific challenges. Without targeted investment in transport links, digital connectivity, and local regeneration projects to create vibrant, sustainable destinations there is a real risk of long-term decline in places that depend heavily on tourism.
“This budget was an opportunity to back a sector that generates jobs and year-round economic activity, but instead it further squeezes hospitality at a critical moment. Urgent corrective measures are now needed if the UK is to maintain its position as a premier holiday and leisure destination, driving job creation and economic growth nationwide.”
The CLA has been lobbying extensively against the UK Government's inheritance tax reforms since they were first announced by Rachel Reeves in last year’s Autumn Budget as it seriously risks undermining the future of family farming across the entire country.
Whilst the CLA continues to fight this deeply damaging policy in full, it has been working with Treasury and Defra officials in the run up to the Budget to explore what concessions Government might be willing to make.
In her 2025 Budget, Rachel Reeves announced that the £1m allowance before inheritance tax is to be paid can now be transferred between spouses, effectively doubling the allowance for married couples.
CLA President Gavin Lane said:
“This concession is the first public signal that the Chancellor knows her inheritance tax reforms have been a disaster.”
“Across the country, family businesses have been reducing their investment, at an enormous cost to the economy and the British public. It is not too late for her to scrap the entire policy, and finally recognise the enormous value family owned businesses bring to the UK.”
“The Chancellor said this was a Budget for sustainable long term growth. But it is difficult to understand what measures contained within it were designed for that purpose. Government policy continues to disincentivise investment and the country is paying the price.”
CLA External Affairs Director Jonathan Roberts said:
“Our lobbying of the Treasury went to the wire ahead of the 2025 Budget. In doing so we have helped to secure a concession on Government's dreadful inheritance tax reforms, with the £1m allowance now being transferable between spouses.
“For some farmers and family business owners it is a huge step forward, for some a very small one, for others it's no help at all - especially as around 40% of farmers are single, divorced or widowed.
“It is the first public recognition from the Treasury that reforms to Agricultural and Business Property Reliefs have been a disaster. Farms and rural businesses have been pulling investment - and everyone in the country has paid the price, with fewer jobs, less economic activity and less tax revenue paid to the Exchequer.”
“This concession is a start, but we will continue to chip away at APR/BPR reforms until they are reversed.”
UK Careers Body Demands All-Age Plan To Drive Economic Growth Investment in Career Guidance is Essential To Cut NEET Rates And Fill Key Skills Shortages, says CDI
Today's Autumn Budget had to balance driving growth within a tight fiscal environment. It’s imperative we look at ways to grow the economy, to increase the funds for investment, in a financially prudent way. This is why the Career Development Institute urges the Government to ensure all-age careers guidance is an integrated part of the economic plan.
The Government rightly points to the Gatsby Benchmarks as providing a world-class framework for careers guidance in schools, and the valuable support the National Careers Service provides to adults. But careers services are woefully underfunded and would have a positive return for greater investment.
We call for the government’s economic and opportunity plans to include much greater investment in careers guidance for young people and adults. Support in early years and through education can help young people make better choices first time around, reduce NEET rates and ensure their aspirations match the skills needs of the economy. Support for adults not only helps them move towards and into work, but also helps them develop skills throughout life and respond better to career shocks, such as redundancy.
We call on the government to fully use the lever of career development for their economic and social opportunity plans by:
Developing an overarching careers strategy so that support for young people and adults is aligned, and has sufficient investment to play its full role in addressing major issues such as NEETs, economic inactivity and workforce shortages.
Expanding the careers guidance support offered to children in primary schools, to give them the widest perspective of career opportunities.
Ensuring schools and colleges have a consistent and higher minimum level of resource to support young people, especially for those most disadvantaged.
Including careers guidance support in skill, employability and social mobility programmes, including the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, so that people can access careers support both beforehand (to ensure the programme is suitable for them), and afterwards, (so they can make best use of the skills they have developed.)
We urge the government to follow up on today’s announcements by recognising the critical role career development can play in growing the economy, increasing opportunity and meeting the skills challenges of the future. Without a strategic commitment to the UK's careers infrastructure, the government will be missing a key lever in achieving its ambition to drive long-term, sustainable growth.