Leeds businesses ban Rachel Reeves in her own Pudsey constituency amid fury over tax hikes
Rachel Reeves has been banned from shops in her Leeds constituency as frustrated business owners say soaring rates and taxes are pushing independent retailers to breaking point.
The Chancellor has been told she is no longer welcome at Pudsey Computers, a family-run shop founded in 1989, after its owner revealed his business rates bill is set to jump by thousands of pounds in a single year.
Carpet Corner Bramley, another local firm in Mrs Reeves' constituency for Leeds West and Pudsey has since publicly backed the move, saying it "stands behind" Pudsey Computers.
The growing backlash follows a similar protest at the Marsh Inn pub, where landlord Martin Knowles has barred Labour MPs - including Mrs Reeves - after saying tax and rates hikes were hammering his boozer.
Steven Lightfoot, 40, who runs Pudsey Computers, says he was left "baffled" and "astonished" when he realised the shop had been pushed out of small business rates relief altogether.
He explained that the shop's rateable value - the figure used to calculate business rates - had risen sharply.
Steven said: "Our building had a rateable value of £13,750, and that's gone up to £18,250."
He said that single jump has had huge consequences. Businesses below a certain threshold qualify for Small Business Rates Relief, which significantly reduces what they pay.
Steven said: "That takes us outside of the Small Business Rates Relief. We pay the full rates, which I've worked out to be about £9,000. We were paying about £1,500 last year."
Although temporary relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses has softened the blow slightly, Steven says it still leaves the shop facing a staggering rise.
He said: "As a business, we're not against paying tax - we pay a lot - and we employ 13 people.
"We've already absorbed the national insurance increase and the minimum wage increase, which I'm actually in favour of - I try to pay all the team more than the minimum wage."
But he said the scale of the increase had taken control out of his hands.
Steven admitted he never expected to take such a public stand - but said he felt he had no other option.
In a post on social media, he said he'd taken the decision to "publicly ban Rachel Reeves" from the shop "until independent retail is properly listened to and meaningful action is taken on business rates".
Steven said: "I felt there was no way else to get people to listen.
"If other retailers follow suit, then it would send a message that this is not okay."
Despite the ban, Steven insisted if she did turn up at the shop, he would want dialogue.
He said: "I'd want an open conversation so that she can understand the severity of the changes, as someone who makes decisions on these things."
Steven said the response from customers had been overwhelming, with some deliberately choosing independents over big chains.
He said: "We had a chap come in on Saturday morning who said he'd planned to have his computer fixed by PC World, but took it in to us because he saw the post about Rachel Reeves."
Warning that independent retailers are "at the lowest I've seen them", Steven added: "These are people who just want to make a living. It's of massive concern."
Rachel Reeves' office has been approached for comment.