Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves hails ‘huge potential’ to create jobs of the future in Yorkshire

Ms Reeves said: “Whenever I'm going around Yorkshire I see the huge potential and opportunity to create some of the jobs and industries of the future.

“If you think in particular about some of the green industries of the future, there's big opportunities in Yorkshire for Carbon Capture and Storage, for floating offshore wind, and for green hydrogen.”

Ms Reeves described Salt Beer Factory as a “massive success story”.

Similar to many firms of its kind, Salt Beer Factory noted that its business had been impacted in recent times by supply chain issues and the rising costs of materials and ingredients. Despite these issues, the business has seen a large amount of success since its founding. The firm achieved a deal for distribution with Tescos in its first two years of operation.

Ms Reeves noted Labour’s desire to help similar firms.

She said: “This is an expanding and a growing industry, and this brewery is now exporting to 13 different countries around the world. I want to do more to ensure that Britain is the best place to start and grow a business.

Ms Reeves also noted the issue of rising energy costs, which she said Labour would seek to address by creating a windfall tax for energy companies, which it would use to fund help for businesses.

The Government recently announced that support for household bills would be extended until June, limiting average annual costs to £2,500.

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme, however, which provides a similar price cap for businesses, is due to end on March 31. Whilst businesses are able to apply for the new Energy Bill Discount Scheme, the amount of monetary support provided will be less.

Ms Reeves said: “Labour have said that we want a proper windfall tax on the big profits that the energy giants are making,”

“One of the biggest causes of the cost-of-living crisis is of course the huge spike in energy prices - and that's because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine - but alongside those record prices that are being charged to consumers and to businesses, there's also record profits being made by energy giants.”

Last year, the Government introduced an Energy Profits Levy, consisting of a new 25 per cent extra surcharge on profits in the oil and gas sector, introduced to raise more money to offer cost-of-living support.

In the Autumn statement, the Government announced that the rate of this levy would rise by a further ten per cent.

Labour has said it would extend this tax.

Ms Reeves noted: “We've said that we would extend that windfall tax and use the revenues to help families, pensioners and businesses with the energy costs that they are struggling with – including at breweries and at pubs like where we are today.”

Ms Reeves also noted Labour’s plan to reform current business rates.

She said: “We want to level the playing field so that small businesses and high streets can thrive.

“That includes pubs like the one we are in today, and some of the smaller mid-sized breweries that we want to see grow and become national champions.”