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The group of UK retailers also say they would like to meet withe chancellor Rachel Reeves, and suggest changing the schedule for introducing various money-raising measures.

Their letter says:

“By adjusting the timings of some of these changes, the Government would give businesses time to adjust and greatly mitigate their harmful effects on high streets and consumers.”

“We appreciate Government’s focus on improving the fiscal situation and investing in public services; we also recognise the role businesses have in supporting this.

But, the sheer scale of new costs and the speed with which they occur create a cumulative burden that will make job losses inevitable, and higher prices a certainty.”