Labour has "lost the countryside" after hammering rural businesses with a succession of tax rises, one of Britain's leading Michelin-starred chefs has warned.
Tommy Banks, 37, accused the Government of driving jobs out of already struggling rural communities after he was forced to cancel most of his apprenticeships and to shelve plans for more restaurants.
The chef, whose North Yorkshire hospitality businesses include two Michelin-starred restaurants and a pair of country pubs, said that Rachel Reeves's increases to employers' National Insurance in 2025 had cost his business £250,000 at a stroke.
And his warning comes days before John Healey, the current Chancellor, delivers his first Budget amid mounting criticism of the impact of Labour's tax policies on the countryside.
Mr Banks's venues include the Michelin-starred Black Swan, in Oldstead – once named by Tripadvisor the best restaurant in the world – and Roots, in York .
They employ 175 people between them, but the business has cut its annual intake of apprentices from six to just one.
Mr Banks, who became Britain's youngest Michelin-starred chef at just 24, told hospitality trade newsletter Propel: "We're the biggest employer around us for 20 miles.
"There are no young people in the countryside because there are only retired people and second homes. They're the only people who can afford to live there because there are no jobs."
Mr Banks said hospitality and farming were among the few major sources of employment in his area, warning that more business closures would leave young people with little reason to remain in rural communities.
The Government has acknowledged the problem, admitting in a report published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in July that poor transport links and a shortage of affordable housing were holding back rural businesses.
Figures published by Defra show that tourism-related businesses account for 15pc of jobs in rural areas, compared with 11pc in towns and cities.
"It's something I feel incredibly passionate about and I would implore someone like Andy Burnham to come and see us," Mr Banks said.
"We'll talk them through how this thing actually works, because the Government has lost the countryside, and it's not for any reason other than neglect."
His attack follows months of protests by farmers against Labour's inheritance tax raid , which critics have warned could threaten the future of family farms.
Under changes introduced in April, farmers and other business owners face an effective inheritance tax rate of up to 20pc on assets above £2.5m.
The Government initially proposed a £1m threshold but increased it to £2.5m following a backlash from farmers, spearheaded by Jeremy Clarkson .
A survey of 700 rural family businesses by the Country Land and Business Association found that 89pc had paused investment, while 70pc feared their businesses would not survive another decade.
Country pubs have also been hit by rising business rates, with average rateable values increasing 30pc in England this year, compared with 19.4pc across all commercial properties, according to official figures.
UKHospitality has warned that the average pub's annual rates bill could be £4,500 higher by 2027-28, despite relief announced by ministers.
Labour's proposals to lower the drink-driving limit in England and Wales have added to concerns about the future of country pubs, where customers often rely on their cars.
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, claimed in January that the plans could sound the "death knell" for rural pubs, though ministers defended the proposals as necessary to improve road safety.
Mr Banks urged Mr Healey to cut VAT on hospitality to 10pc, and to reverse the increases to employers' National Insurance in next week's Budget.
He said: "We have the highest rate of youth unemployment in Europe, and it's solely because of the taxes the government has put on jobs."
The chef warned that without action to reduce costs, more rural businesses could be forced to abandon expansion plans, depriving villages of jobs and opportunities for younger workers.
