The government has been urged not to ignore the retail sector, ahead of tomorrow’s Budget.

The call follows state bail-outs of both the banking and automotive sectors and claims from recruiters that the chancellor’s VAT cut had not boosted the sector (Recruiter.co.uk, 15 April).

Peter Shrimpton, managing director at Retail Executive Recruitment, told Recruiter that the sector was being neglected.

“It seems to have been forgotten, compared with the other industries that have been helped out.

“To get the economy back on its feet, people need to be spending money.

“Retail therapy will end up driving money to the economy. The government should think more seriously than it does about retail and what it can provide the economy.”

Peter Burgess, managing director at Retail HR, adds: “A number or retailers are suffering as a consequence of the banks and other credit providers not doing their jobs, despite being bailed out with billions of pounds of our money. 

“Although distasteful, the government had to bail-out the banks [although they did not have to pay fat bonuses to the idiots who got us in this mess].  They are also providing help for the car industry because that preserves jobs. 

“Retail is the largest employer in the country. The government needs to be reminded that on one thing at least, Napoleon was right: we are a nation of shopkeepers.”