‘Sticking-plaster measures’: Sunak fails to ease pain of surging costs, say firms

Fuel duty reduction helps but ‘doesn’t really scratch the surface’, says Billy Hutchinson, who runs a packaging company. Photograph: Simon D Jones/Pro Vision Photography Ltd/Lesters

The spring statement did not deliver much to help Lesters, a small but growing packaging company struggling with rising costs.

The Staffordshire-based firm’s energy bills will rise from £7,000 a month to £18,000 when the current contract runs out. Speaking after Rishi Sunak’s spring statement, Lesters’ managing director, Billy Hutchinson, said the chancellor had offered nothing to help on this key issue.