The owner of JD Wetherspoon has called on Rachel Reeves to "understand how many beans make five" and implement "tax equality between pubs and supermarkets".

Tim Martin's comments come in an update to the markets on Wednesday morning, which shows like-for-like sales at the British pub and hotel chain are up 5.8% in the 10 weeks to July 7, compared with the same period last year.

The firm confirmed 26 pubs have been sold or surrendered in the year-to-date, while two have been opened.

It boasts a current trading estate of 801 pubs, while 10 remain on the market or are under offer.

Despite sales "again, at record levels", Mr Martin has called on Labour to succeed where the previous government failed by changing the tax system for bars.

"The average Wetherspoon pub has generated taxes of one sort or another of £7 million in the last 10 years, as well as generating considerable employment and social benefits," he said.

"The last government failed to implement tax equality between pubs and supermarkets, leading to pub closures and underinvestment - Wetherspoon hopes that the current Chancellor, with a Bank of England pedigree, will understand how many beans make five, and rectify this inequality."

It's not the first time Mr Martin has pleaded with politicians for a "fairer" tax system.

At the start of last year, he claimed supermarkets have taken "about half of the pub industry's beer volumes" since his chain began trading in 1979.

FTSE 100

The UK's flagship share index, the FTSE 100, was up 23-points at 8,163 shortly after opening this morning.

Brent crude oil futures were down 0.73%, trading at $84.04 a barrel.

Companies reporting today

  • Barratt Developments - Trading Statement
  • JD Wetherspoon - Trading Statement
  • PageGroup - Q2 Trading Statement
  • ZIGUP - Full year results

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