Jacques Borel VAT club creates lobbying letter template for operators

Operators are being encouraged to lobby their local MP for a reduction in VAT via a new template letter produced by the Jacques Borel VAT club.

The new letter is available on the Jacques Borel website, and has been created in response to operator questions on how to best frame their lobbying.

The letter begins: "I write to ask for your support for a cut in VAT from 20% to 5% in restaurants, pubs, bars, and hotels. At the moment, there is a significant disparity between the zero rate of VAT on food and beverage sales in supermarkets and the 20% VAT rate for sales in pubs and restaurants…"

It then goes on to highlight the VAT club's Tax Parity Day, which took place in September 2013, and is set to be repeated this September. It said the day was a big success, and states that 15,000 outlets took part in the event, which saw pubs and restaurants operate using the proposed 5% rate of VAT.

The letter then claims: ""Hospitality services support over two million jobs in the UK and are highly price-sensitive. A reduction in VAT would feed through to lower prices, stimulating demand and creating a significant number of new jobs, particularly for young people."

Frenchman Borel has become known for spearheading the campaign for a reduction in industry VAT. Having founded the group in 2010, he has previously claimed that the UK's rate is among the highest in Europe, and suggested that a reduction here could boost business.

Companies to have previously added their support to the campaign include JD Wetherspoon, Punch Taverns and Young's.

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