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WATCH: Furious Briton hits out at 'two-tier Keir' following Rachel Reeves's Budget
Nov 27, 2025
A pub landlord has demanded a Budget U-turn from Rachel Reeves as he hit out at the latest "attack on working people".Speaking to GB News from The Old Bulldog in Stoke-on-Trent, Mike Newton took aim at the second Budget from the Chancellor for targeting those who are the "backbone" of the nation.FULL STORY HERE.
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0:00
Well, thank you very much, Michelle. We've been here in the old Bulldog pub in Stoke all day, finding out both how the landlord here is feeling about that budget, but also how the punters here, our other local businesses here, you know, feeling and how that budget exactly has gone down here in areas like Stoke
0:14
Of course, former Red Wall in 2019, some areas here went conservative and then back to Labour in the last election
0:19
So it's such an interesting area. But come over and let me introduce you to my guests that we've got joining us this evening
0:24
We've got Adam Walker here who lives locally and Mike Newton, the landlord as well as Albert, of course
0:30
This is the old bulldog pub, so it wouldn't be right if we didn't have a bulldog for you this evening
0:34
Adam, I'll come to you first. You know, you're a local here. How are you feeling about that budget yesterday
0:40
To be honest with you, Jack, I'm deeply confused, deeply frustrated. One thing with me, well, when it comes to the Libre party
0:48
they're supposed to be the party for the working people. So my question to Tia Keir is
0:53
how is yesterday's budget supporting me as a working taxpayer and the elderly
0:57
Because you're taking from pensions once again. I mean, they would say that they are helping with the cost of living
1:02
by bringing in an average household kind of of the energy bills I mean is that not helping you Right okay so last year did Ed Miliband not promise a reduction on our energy bills I mean is that not helping you Right OK So last year did Ed Miliband not promise a reduction on our energy bills
1:15
I'm pretty sure he did. So, I would like, to your kid, to come sit here
1:20
in the old Bulldog in Longton, enjoy a pint with us, and explain to us, without sugar-coating any of the nonsense
1:26
that him and Rachel Thieves are coming out with, to explain how that budget supports us
1:31
I mean, do you think the government get it in areas like this? Absolutely not
1:35
I don't think the government realise and understand the hatred that working people have at this moment in time for the Libre Party
1:44
Mike, you're the landlord here, you're the owner here. Just tell us, hospitality, how do you think this budget is going to impact you on that day-to-day basis
1:53
Yeah, it's certainly not very helpful, Jack. And I think that it's very evident that there are two things going on here
1:59
Firstly, if my customers do well, then I do well. And this is a real attack on working people, this budget. See, even Albert thinks that
2:07
But what I would say is this, that in terms of the specifics of the hospitality industry
2:14
then we could have done without the 25 rise in business rates that I think this premises is going to have We could have done without things like the rise in fuel duty and in alcohol tax
2:26
and we could also have done without the changes to NICs last year. I feel very strongly that our business is on a firm footing here
2:34
but we need help from the government, not a tax on the working people
2:39
who are the back s we've seen today in these wonderful discussions we've had. We've had the full day here, Jack, haven't we? It's been fantastic
2:44
but there's a feeling, isn't there, you've picked it up, I've picked it up
2:49
that the government is perhaps more disconnected ever than ever from the honest, hard-working people who form the backbone of areas like Stoke-on-Trent
2:58
I mean, one of the things that you will be affected by will be that rise in the national living wage
3:03
I mean, you told us earlier you're happy to pay your staff that bit more but is that a cost which might have to be a struggle for you
3:10
I mean look, I think that if the economy downturns further, as it probably will after this budget
3:16
then we will have to think about things like hours, staff numbers
3:20
I'm certainly not in a position where I'm going to go out and start hiring at the moment, which would be nice. I'd like to give people jobs
3:25
I mean you met the staff here today Fantastic people They work super hard and we got a really good business But if the costs of employing someone are going up relative to the money we making it going to be a problem to hire more people and give them more hours
3:39
So what are the things then? If you were the Chancellor yesterday, what would have been something that you would have done to help hospitality
3:44
What, as a pub owner, are you maybe crying out for to make things that bit easier
3:49
I think she should just go full out and reverse the NIC changes that were made last year
3:54
Those have really undermined hospitality. Things like the changes in the living wage we can live with
4:02
but when you increase taxes on employing people, it's human nature, it's the nature of business
4:08
that there are going to be less people employed. You've seen what's happened this year. Unemployment is now 5%
4:13
It's gone up very rapidly. The economy is not in good shape
4:17
I used to work for the Bank of England, which given Rachel's past there, it's not necessarily a recommendation
4:23
But, you know, I understand, I think, how the economy works. And what we've seen yesterday is not good for Stoke-on-Trent
4:30
it's not good for the working people, and it's certainly not great for hospitality
4:35
Right, Mike Newton, thank you so much. And Adam as well, thanks so much. You know, here in Stoke-on-Trent
4:39
that really is the feeling on the budget, Michelle
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