Labour's tax hikes force cancellation of long-running flower show
One of the world's longest-running flower shows has been cancelled following Labour's tax raid on employers.
The organisers of the Shrewsbury Flower Show blamed 'changes to National Insurance and the minimum wage' for driving up the cost of the annual event.
The show, which was due to take place on August 8-9, has been happening since 1875.
The chairman of Shropshire Horticultural Society, Maelor Owen, said: 'As a society, we have struggled to put on a show that was financially viable for several years.
'Over the past few years strenuous efforts have been made to reduce costs and boost attendance.
'Regrettably, the loss incurred by the society in staging the 2024 show was significantly greater than we had anticipated - by way of example, we spent over £150,000 on security and barriers.
'Recent changes to National Insurance and the minimum wage, combined with the cost-of-living crisis, mean that further extensive losses would be incurred should we proceed with the 2025 show.
'Such losses are simply no longer sustainable.'
The decision comes after Rachel Reeves raised taxes by a record £40 billion at the Budget in autumn.
The Chancellor has increased the rate of NI contributions paid by employers, from 13.8pc to 15pc, and also lowered the threshold at which companies become liable to pay the tax.
She has also increased the minimum wage by 6.7 per cent to £12.21 per hour for those aged 21 and older.
Critics claim the tax hikes are responsible for the halving of growth forecasts for this year from 2 per cent to 1 per cent.
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