Many businesses face closure over cost of living crisis

Calls for immediate government intervention are becoming urgent, as more and more UK businesses are having to shut down over the cost of living crisis.
 
Downing Street seems to be in a state of paralysis right now, with Boris Johnson on holiday just weeks before his successor is elected, and little action coming from the rest of the government despite promises to draw up new cost of living support.
 
Martin McTague, the national chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, has warned that the “toxic cocktail” of rising taxes, energy costs, inflation and shrinking economic growth means “action is needed right now”.
 
“The cost of living crisis can’t be solved without addressing the cost of doing business,” he claimed.
 
The Royal Crown Chinese takeaway in Scotland is expecting to close after its energy bill soared by £10,000. Owner Martin Tang said he faces closure of the 40-year-old shop because “every time I turn on a burner to cook something, I’m losing money. This is enough to kill off my business.”
 
Molly Brown’s Dog Friendly Team Room is shutting in September after an electricity bill costing £4,000 for 10 weeks came in. The owner, Richard Stewart-Brown said: “As we were working to recover from being shut in lockdown, we like everyone else, discovered that our costs had just exploded and in addition to that instead of being one of seven cafes on the promenade, we are now one of 17 on the road and that doesn’t include other cafes in the town.
 
Italian restaurant Santoni is closing after five years due to the £2,000 monthly energy bill expected to hit this winter. Its owner Marco Di Rienzo said that it was closing despite still being popular, due to the worsening cost of living crisis and soaring prices.