Independent businesses in Leeds have reacted following the budget announcement

Firms which have furloughed staff will be given a £1,000 bonus to keep workers in jobs, diners will get a discount to support pubs and restaurants, and stamp duty is to be cut under measures revealed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak this afternoon.

He said the jobs retention bonus could cost up to £9bn if all furloughed workers are retained but warned that "hardship lies ahead".

Mr Sunak also confirmed plans to abolish stamp duty on properties up to £500,000 in England and Northern Ireland under a temporary measure lasting until March 31 2021; announced an "eat out to help out" plan for dining out in August to boost the hospitality sector, with a 50 per cent discount per head from Monday to Wednesday and slashed VAT on food, accommodation and attractions from 20 per cent to five per cent from July 15 until January 12, a tax cut worth up to £4bn.

After the news was announced, Dave Olejnik, Laynes and Sarto owner told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "Five per cent VAT cut is great. A call for lowering VAT in hospitality has been on the cards for many months and even before COVID-19, so this is very welcomed. Maybe a little bit later than we all wanted.

"The Employer bonus is that just a way that the Job retention scheme will finish now in October? Do you keep running at a loss to get a bonus in January? But we have 18 staff members and this gives us a little bit of hope, especially if things pick up.

"Eat Out to Help Out - What we want to do is to get a steady flow of bookings throughout the week at Sarto in particular. so this will encourage the public to eat out Monday - Wednesday, and not just at weekends.”

He added: "Our indie community needed this boost and these next six months will be much tougher than what they have all been through already. Over the weekend we had reported slower takings (30-40 per cent of a normal Saturday takings).

"In this latest announcement, we can all agree to disagree that is was very much needed support but how late has this been delivered by Government? The VAT cut has been called for over many months now BUT finally, it is announced and it will help many hospitality businesses survive."