‘Tourists want to spend’: shoppers in London share views on the mini-budget
As shoppers descended on Oxford Street in London, in black cabs or on foot to visit the city’s high-end shops on Friday, a massive sign affixed to Selfridges towered overhead: “Let’s change the way we shop.”
The change, however, may be somewhat different than intended. Soon, the area could be beneficiary of two plans announced by the chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, on Friday: the return of duty-free shopping to the high street and the scrapping of the 45% income tax band.
Trailing out of Selfridges with the unmistakable yellow bag dangling from the crook of her arm, Rita Waters, 66, welcomed Kwarteng’s mini-budget. While the VAT tax change won’t alter her shopping habits as a British citizen, she felt positive about the decision to scrap the additional tax on those whose annual income was more than £150,000.
“And it will filter down,” said Waters, who is retired. “It will filter down to the people who don’t pay tax but maybe they have more money in their pocket than the Treasury.”
As a lifelong Conservative voter, she said the budget will give her more to spend and give to food banks. “And hope the other people will as well,” she added.
While praising other changes, such as to stamp duty, she wishes there had been a windfall tax on energy companies. “Give them a chance,” she said of the government’s fiscal plans. “Give them a chance.”
Like many international travellers visiting London’s high streets, shoe designers Theresa Cladney and Angelique Joseph, hailing from the midwest, will soon find shopping in Britain is going to cost them less than before.
“I think it would be great, as long as you don’t have to do the hassle of the process,” said Cladney, recalling hours wasted at airports for returns. “If it was an easy process, like
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