‘A cut-and-paste budget’ – UK businesses attack lack of help from chancellor

Hospitality trade says chancellor failed to help save sector with VAT cut, while travel industry laments air duty rise

• Budget: key points at a glance

The chancellor has been accused of producing a “cut and paste” budget that fails to provide the tax changes needed to protect pubs and restaurants.

UK Hospitality, the trade body for the sector, said Jeremy Hunt’s budget had done little to “bridge the sector through a difficult period”, and failed to reduce the escalating costs businesses now face.