Celebrity chef criticises VAT hike

CELEBRITY chef Neven Maguire has said raising VAT to 23% is “shooting ourselves in the foot”, and will lead to more shoppers going North of the border.

He said the Government “wants us to stay here and shop here but where is the enticement if the VAT goes up? I don’t think it will help anybody — not the consumers who will have to pay more, not the shops that are struggling and it’s the last thing we need with incomes already being affected”.

However, he said that his restaurant — MacNean House in Blacklion, Co Cavan — has had its “best year yet”.