‘We can’t carry on like this’: Shropshire traders reveal their Autumn Budget 2025 hopes and fears as Rachel Reeves calls for Labour MPs to unite ahead of expected tax rises

It's not wholly certain yet what will be contained in her red box, but it's looking likely it'll include extending the freeze on income tax thresholds, scrapping the controversial two-child benefit cap and making some changes to taxes on high-value homes.

It is also expected the Chancellor will cut the five per cent VAT on domestic energy bills, while the Government announced last week that rail fares will be frozen for the first time in 30 years.

This time last year, businesses bore the brunt of a brutal set of hikes in the 2024 autumn Budget, with minimum wage and National Insurance increases, so it's no wonder that businesesspeople around the country are nervously awaiting Wednesday's revelations.

Amid the seemingly never-ending cost of living crisis that is driving customers to tighten their purse strings, business people in Wellington are worried about the high street's ability to weather more storms. 

Les Gough, owner of the Wellington Cobbler, said: "It's very tight at the moment, with all the price rises. Small businesses can't carry on like they are. 

"[The Government] needs to help us. The big companies and the big supermarkets, they seem to thrive." 

"It's very quiet at the moment," said Gary Fullerton, manager at the Dun Cow pub, who is hoping the budget will allow him to avoid a price hike on beer. 

"I've been here 13 years now and we used to be full every day. [Now] people just haven't got the money." 

For some, like Gary, business rates are a major concern. Some organisations have seen their bills soar after the Covid-era discount of 75 per cent for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses was cut to 40 per cent last year.

Jon Drew, who owns the Boardroom gaming cafe with his wife Jenni, said: "Business rates are a big aspect to any business. With the big cut to the relief recently, it means our rate almost doubled overnight. Without wanting to increase anything, that is quite a big impact on our business.

"It's a real struggle, we're deemed as a location for enjoyment, for pleasure - and with people having to cut back, this is the sort of thing that gets cut back on. 

"The hope [for the Budget] is for support for the families around us. Whatever can be done for a businesses is obviously beneficial to us, but whatever gives people that little extra bit of spending money will help get them out into the streets and out into businesses like ourselves." 

With so many local traders already operating on a knife edge, the stakes for Wednesday’s Budget could hardly be higher. 

If the Chancellor’s plans fail to address the pressures facing families and small businesses, many fear local high streets may face an even tougher winter than the last.