Latest news with #MaelorOwen
Telegraph
17-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
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.
BBC News
16-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Shrewsbury Flower Show cancelled due to rising costs
The Shrewsbury Flower Show, which was due to take place on 8-9 August, has been cited "changes to National Insurance (NI) and the minimum wage", alongside the cost-of-living crisis as the reason behind the chairman of Shropshire Horticultural Society Maelor Owen said the team had "struggled to put on a show that was financially viable for several years".He added that the 2024 show saw organisers spend more than £150,000 on security and barriers. Employers now have to pay NI at 15% on salaries above £5,000, and minimum wage has also risen from £11.44 to £12.21 for those aged 21 and government has previously said the changes would eventually raise £25bn a year and the money would be spent on public services like the NHS. The event, which has been happening since 1875, takes place in The Quarry in Shrewsbury. The 2024 show featured more than 35 floral exhibitors and 175 traders - but the expensive extra security measures were added after a security threat at the 2023 event. Mr Owen said "strenuous efforts" had 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." Mr Owen added that the Shropshire Horticultural Society was "looking very carefully at the long-term viability of the Shrewsbury Flower Show.""All options will be considered over the coming months and we anticipate making a further announcement later in the year," he added. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
