Hairdressers are joining angry pub landlords in banning Labour MPs from their businesses as fury grows over rising taxes hitting the high street.
Barbers and salon owners are following more than 1,000 pubs that have already barred Labour MPs in protest at Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget.
In recent weeks, blunt stickers reading “No Labour MPs” have begun appearing on windows and doors of hair salons as well as pubs, put up by owners furious at sharp rises in business rates and employment costs.
Hospitality leaders have already warned that higher National Insurance bills and a rise in the minimum wage are pushing pubs towards closure, with some landlords saying they simply cannot absorb the extra costs.
Ms Reeves herself is among MPs said to be banned from their local pub after the impact of the tax changes, and now hairdressers are joining the backlash.
The Mail on Sunday reported that Collette Osborne, who runs two Hairven salons in Nottinghamshire, has put up a “No Labour MPs” sign after seeing her business rates bill rise by more than £10,000 a year.
Ms Osborne has barred her two local MPs, Juliet Campbell and Michael Payne, saying businesses like hers are “desperate and hanging on by a thread”.
She said Ms Reeves had promised to protect small businesses but had failed to deliver.
“There is no spare capacity to absorb business rate increases on top of rising wages, utilities, finance costs and Covid debt repayments,” she said. “So no Labour MPs are allowed.”
Emma Vickery, a hairdresser based in London, said she was also struggling under Labour’s tax policies after nearly four decades in business.
“I am proud to have supported public finances through tax and employment contributions for nearly four decades, but it is becoming financially unsustainable,” she said. “Without urgent support, businesses like mine will disappear.”
A hairdresser in Worcestershire told this newspaper: “I have ordered a sign and will be putting up in my salon as soon as it arrives. Labour MPs can do one. They are a disaster and not welcome in my salon. There’s not a client that sits in my chair that doesn’t moan about Keir Starmer and this terrible government.”
Industry figures say the anger mirrors the revolt already seen in pubs and restaurants across the country.
Toby Dicker, from the Salon Employers’ Association, said many salon owners felt let down after expecting more support from a Labour government.
“Our members are decent, hard working people who believed Labour’s promise to make work pay,” he said. “They feel betrayed.”
The Conservatives have seized on the growing protest. Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, said it was no surprise salons had joined pubs in banning Labour MPs.
“This Government won’t listen to small businesses,” he said. “Perhaps if they feel just a fraction of the misery being inflicted on Britain’s high streets, things will change.”
Labour pushed back against the claims, insisting it was backing high street firms. A party source said the Chancellor had announced a £4.3 billion support package at last month’s Budget aimed at helping businesses including hairdressers and salons.
Despite the Government’s defence, the spread of “No Labour MPs” signs from pubs to salons shows little sign of slowing, as growing numbers of small business owners say they are being taxed to breaking point.
