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  "path": "/money/jamie-oliver-warns-britain-risks-decline-tax",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-25T09:01:18.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Business creation falls to record low as Britain loses 4,500 firms amid Rachel Reeves's tax raids",
    "British Airways warns of higher airfares as jet fuel prices surge amid Strait of Hormuz disruption",
    "Apprentice star reveals boardroom secrets and why winning Alan Sugar's £250k 'wasn't for me'",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nCelebrity chef Jamie Oliver has criticised ministers, warning that rising tax pressures risk damaging Britain’s economic prospects.\n\nSpeaking to Times Radio, he said current policies are discouraging entrepreneurs.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n“If you just batter the entrepreneurs, you're going to get nothing,” he said, adding that “this island will become less and less important, less and less relevant very quickly”.\n\nMr Oliver argued that there is a lack of understanding about what supports economic growth.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n“There is a lack of understanding of the chemistry of what a bubbling, buoyant, optimistic, aspirational cool country called Britain looks like,” he said.\n\nHe also accused policymakers of failing to distinguish between large corporations and smaller operators, claiming independent hospitality businesses are “being choked out” by a system that treats them the same as major chains.\n\nHis comments come as other industry figures raise similar concerns.\n\nJohn Vincent, co‑founder of the Leon restaurant chain, has criticised Government tax policies, saying the current approach is placing significant pressure on the sector.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n“Today, for every pound we receive from the customer, around 36p goes to the Government in tax, and about two pence ends up in the hands of the company,” he said.\n\n“It’s why most players are reporting big losses.”\n\nThe hospitality industry is facing rising costs linked to higher National Insurance contributions, increases to the minimum wage and business rates.\n\nFurther pressure may come from proposed changes to business rates affecting shared office spaces.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Business creation falls to record low as Britain loses 4,500 firms amid Rachel Reeves's tax raids\n  * British Airways warns of higher airfares as jet fuel prices surge amid Strait of Hormuz disruption\n  * Apprentice star reveals boardroom secrets and why winning Alan Sugar's £250k 'wasn't for me'\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAnalysis from ChamberlainWalker suggests small businesses using co‑working spaces could face average annual cost increases of around £5,400, with up to 150,000 workers potentially moving away from shared offices as a result.\n\nFounder Chris Walker criticised the policy, calling it “just about the most damaging way I can think of for a Government to raise what would be a modest amount of revenue”.\n\nThe changes follow a decision by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to classify shared office buildings as single premises rather than separate units, removing eligibility for small business rates relief for many tenants.\n\nThe Federation of Small Businesses has urged ministers to intervene.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nPaul Wilson, the organisation’s policy director, warned that “every small business, potentially a self‑employed person or micro‑business using a shared space, faces thousands of pounds of extra costs,” adding that higher bills for shared offices would be “negative for the Government’s local growth agenda”.\n\nRichard Johnson, managing director of flexible office operator UBC, said the changes would be difficult for smaller firms to absorb.\n\n“These are local entrepreneurs and small teams, not big corporations with deep pockets,” he said.\n\nIndustry body FlexSA said it has held three meetings with the Exchequer Secretary on the issue without resolution.\n\nThe Treasury said support remains in place for businesses, pointing to a £4.3billion support package and a five pence reduction in business rates for hospitality firms.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Jamie Oliver warns Britain risks decline as tax pressures 'batter' entrepreneurs"
}