Terence Bates

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

@DanNeidle @TripeHunter2025 "but the idea this can be cut overnight seems far-fetched"
: NO IT IS NOT

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

@rtsrichard @DanNeidle Why should young people have their wages reduced?

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

@csljohnkirby So how/why has it doubled in just 4+ years? I understand the need to protect people, but it is well known how a sizeable number of people exploit our benefits system to the tune of billions, ive seen it in practice.

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

James it is impossible to raise prices further. If anything they are being reduced out of desperation. I agree other small businesses deserve help. Lower VAT in Europe in hospitality is there for a reason. The operating and logistics in hospitality is immensely harder than retail, tech, manufacturing or construction. I know as I have worked in all of those industries and currently have plans to return to tech and manufacturing. 45 years experience in small business running, I understand all the nuances. How many businesses has Dan run?

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

Richard I agree that so much m ore needs to be done to sort this economic mess out for everyone. Hospitality is especially suffering. My accountant unlike Dan deals mainly with small hospitality operators, his big calls now are discussing insolvencies or financing to keep then afloat. It is not just a question of economy, there is a community element to this, in how operators serve the community and the less of them (Like pubs) has a profound effect on those communities turning most into slaves to Deliveroo and staying indoors. And on the subject of Deliveroo type operators, between them and HMRC they are taking 50% of any takeaway/delivery revenue.

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

I am going round in circles with you Dan you have used your pretty diagrams in a one dimensional factor by not taking in the whole big picture of stimulus and keeping tax revenue coming in by limiting those going out of business, do these not register in your head? I keep asking you to come and see us. I will take you into the small operators who have seen their turnover reduce from 9k per week to 3k. Some of the worst affected are those in London. Perhaps its too far for you to come? I immerse myself in this business by meeting a lot of small/medium operators both inside London and outside, most are in shit street and have shed a lot of staff who now have no job and claiming benefits , what about factoring that and the rest of the 'big' picture into your calculations? It is way more convoluted than your simplistic approach, but you either do want to consider that are cannot grasp this.

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

And in the real world, it is unlikely to happen. Multi complex solutions would be outflanked by a simple VAT reduction. It would be a start. Our economy is tanking. This government needs to wake up before we have to call in the IMF to bail us out. I am old enough to remember the chaos of the 1970's, this feels worse. Hospitality is only one element of course. Starmer and co have not got the weaponry or people to take this on.

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

@csljohnkirby Also Dan please explain the cost of 'micro operators' in your pretty wheel. if they are below the VAT threshold, they would share no part of this '£12 billion' deficit, yet you have then set as a cost to the tune of £1.9 billion?

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

@robcorb @DanNeidle They are but they should be excluded. McDonalds should be encouraged to support them they are drowning in property whereas the independent hospitality is drowning in poverty.

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

@rtsrichard @DanNeidle And exactly how long would it take to address all those elements and how many businesses would have disappeared in the 12 months to implement it? A VAT reduction can be put in place in days. The governments tax income is going down on a daily basis.

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

@DanNeidle @TripeHunter2025 Just announced today: PIP payments have soared from £11 billion to £22 Billion in 4.5 years, thats £11 billion extra in benefit payments... there is a big part of the £12 billion you cite that a VAT reduction would cost.

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

@james__love @TripeHunter2025 @DanNeidle I'm loving the fact that in your background picture you are in a bar whilst stating here that 'hospitality isn't special'

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

@DanNeidle Please explain from that report how micro businesses with 8 employees fall under the VAT threshold of 90k? This is in the report you are utilising as the holy bible.

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

If the 45% is correct then my other points still stand. I clearly have cut a nerve with you Dan. I don't have the luxury of a degree education Dan largely due to the fact I grew up in abject poverty with a mentally ill single Mother. I had to go out at work at 13 and fight for everything in life. The upside of this is I understand the street level and I do not think you do, it is a common problem in this degree littered world regardless of political affiliation. There lies the crux of the problem with your presentations, you have got your corporate high earning degree educated hat on. I have climbed out of the gutter to be here now. I own a business called a 'Country Club' not because I am pretentious, privileged, or ostentatious, but because it is satire and I truly care about the industry I work in and the people I work with. You really need to come and see us.

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

Would add: During Covid my local council had a cyber attack. It is widely suspected this was an inside job due to corruption. We missed out on 50k in business rates relief due to this. I have been on national radio with Nadhim Zahawi, who live on air fobbed me off and promised to look into it but never did. Whether small or not, it is still relevant as it is our money Martin

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

@WhollyGil @RightSide_Uk or covid

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

I would suspect he will lose his job. I had a thief spit on me once, a week later I went down with covid, I had restrained her after she stole from us. The police came and put her on the bus citing she hadn't committed an offence, we later found out she was wanted for 16 other robberies and had breached a banning order..

[Terence Bates @ClaptonCC]

You have to start somewhere. The economy is a complete mess and has been brought about by governments that either don't care, don't have a clue or were too busy feathering their own nests and that of their cronies. I'll say it again. I have run businesses for 45 years, this is the worst period I can remember. The magnitude of corruption and overspending and worthless elements of interference by red tape interference departments is off the Richter scale.