Shoe Zone blames Rachel Reeves’ budget for closing stores

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, poses with the red Budget Box - (Getty Images)

High Street retailer Shoe Zone said it has shut stores in response to soaring wage costs following the recent Budget measures.

The group – which employs around 2,250 staff across 297 stores in the UK – said the Chancellor’s move to increase employers’ national insurance contributions and increase the minimum wage has led to “significant additional costs”.