Wetherspoon chief joins chorus of disapproval over rates plan

Tim Martin

The planned rise in business rates for large retailers would mean high-street stores and those in out-of-town shopping centres paying up to 15p in the pound a year extra.

The levy is expected to raise 30 million for the government and while it will not directly affect pubs, Martin said political moves such as this "have bedevilled tax issues for decades".

Martin, whose Wetherspoon group opened its first pub in Scotland in 1996 and puts out a trading update on Wednesday, said: "I think taxes (on business] are too high.

"Capricious, one-off taxes that come out of the blue are damaging for business and jobs. We support an appropriate and proper level of tax that produces maximum revenue for government but also provides an element of certainty for business that they can invest. We would say don't overtax particular types of business so they are a disincentive to create jobs."

The Scottish Retail Consortium and the CBI Scotland are among a number of organisations and blue chip firms that have hit out at the latest tax plan. B&Q was the latest to join a list that includes Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

Martin said Wetherspoon had created 2,000 direct jobs in Scotland and "remained committed" to the country despite the latest tax proposal.

It will open its 50th pub north of the Border, Camperdown Place, in Glasgow's West George Street, on 1 March. Its first pub was also in Glasgow, The Counting House in St Vincent Place.

City analysts believe this week's festive trading update from the group will show resilient sales despite some impact from December's heavy snow.