M&S boss says retailers being ‘raided like piggy banks’

Last year, M&S reported a jump in annual profits to £672m for the 12 months to March. In his article, Mr Machin said that M&S was “growing, but others are not and there is no doubt that there will be fewer jobs, fewer shops and slower wage growth across the sector as a whole”.

As well as changes to employment rights and the increase in employers’ NICs, Mr Machin also criticised a new packaging levy that is due in October.

The extended producer responsibility (EPR) measure is designed to make producers pay the full net costs of managing and recycling packaging waste, and so aims to reduce unsustainable packaging.

In its letter to the chancellor in November, the British Retail Consortium estimated the measure would cost the sector £2bn.

Mr Machin said EPR would “give retailers a tax bill 20 times the current amount with £2bn going straight to the Treasury as general taxation and no improvement to recycling”.

“Retail is being raided like a piggy bank and it’s unacceptable.”

He called for the government to phase in the timing of the NICs increase over two years – echoing a call by Next boss Lord Wolfson – to give retailers “breathing space”.

Mr Machin also said the EPR fees should be delayed and the government should rethink its approach to business rates.

A Treasury spokesperson said: “We delivered a once-in-a-Parliament budget to wipe the slate clean and deliver the stability businesses need, laying the foundations for economic growth.

“In addition to capping corporation tax for the duration of parliament, we’re permanently cutting business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure on the high street from 2026”.