https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62n68pxxlwo
As well as challenges caused by business rates, Millner also said VAT in the hospitality sector was "all over the place".
"If I make a chocolate brownie and I give it to somebody to take away in a paper bag, they don't pay VAT. If they sit in with that brownie, they pay VAT. "If I put it in a gift box, they pay VAT. If I cover it in chocolate, they pay VAT. "There is no rhyme or reason to it."
According to Paula Gouldthorpe, from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), ministers have "repeatedly ignored the needs of our high streets".
Gouldthorpe, the regional stakeholder and business manager for Hull and East Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire, said confidence levels in hospitality, retail and leisure were lower than any other sector.
She added: "Over the course of the next few months, we are very concerned that we're going to see some increase in closures, reduction in staffing and perhaps some contracted hours of the opening of some of these high street retailers."
As well as challenges caused by business rates, Millner also said VAT in the hospitality sector was "all over the place".
"If I make a chocolate brownie and I give it to somebody to take away in a paper bag, they don't pay VAT. If they sit in with that brownie, they pay VAT. "If I put it in a gift box, they pay VAT. If I cover it in chocolate, they pay VAT. "There is no rhyme or reason to it."
According to Paula Gouldthorpe, from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), ministers have "repeatedly ignored the needs of our high streets".
Gouldthorpe, the regional stakeholder and business manager for Hull and East Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire, said confidence levels in hospitality, retail and leisure were lower than any other sector.
She added: "Over the course of the next few months, we are very concerned that we're going to see some increase in closures, reduction in staffing and perhaps some contracted hours of the opening of some of these high street retailers."