A WIRRAL chef has urged the new Labour government to make coming to the aid of the UK's hospitality sector one of its priorities. 

Bosses across the retail, energy and hospitality sectors have urged the incoming Labour Government to fulfil its pledge of prioritising economic growth after Sir Keir Starmer’s election victory.

Sir Keir and the Labour Party are preparing to form a government after routing the Conservatives in Thursday’s General Election.

Labour has sought to position itself as a pro-business party since Sir Keir became leader in 2020, and has put the economy and business at the centre of its pitch to voters.

Chef Paul Askew started his career in the industry as a kitchen porter at Thornton Hall in Wirral before going on to become a regular on TV shows such as Saturday Kitchen and Sunday Brunch as well as appearing as a mentor on Celebrity MasterChef.

Paul is now Chef Patron of The Art School restaurant in Liverpool.

He said: “I hope the incoming government realises the urgency of our predicament across the UK’s hospitality industry.

“The quickest way to breathe new life into hospitality is a drop in VAT in line with most of our European friends. Otherwise there’s no magic wand to bring down food inflation or help with the other myriad challenges which have not gone away – tax burdens, supply chain, recruiting staff from Europe, PAYE, debts from the pandemic. It’s impossible to pass all of these increased operating costs on to customers who themselves have been relentlessly squeezed for the last three years with the cost of living crisis and still now it’s an incredibly tough situation.

“If you showed an accountant how the hospitality industry is currently set up they would say it is doomed to fail. And still weekly operators are shutting their doors for good. It’s no way to run a business and we need an entire recalibration to help those that remain to flourish. The UK has many pressing issues to tackle and solve when the new government begins so I implore those at the top to help the hospitality industry with a VAT reduction as soon as possible.”