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Recent increases in employer national insurance contributions could hardly have come at a worse time, according to sector leaders.

That is code for the tricky stuff: think those big and in many places unpopular tax rises, such as the increase in employers' national insurance contributions.

Despite increasing tax on businesses, by increasing employer National Insurance contributions, she has so far stuck to Labour's manifesto commitment not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT.

Former cabinet minister Louise Haigh has called for Labour to reconsider its manifesto pledges not to increase income tax or employee national insurance.

He said businesses were still struggling with growing costs due to increased national insurance contributions and the "out of date" non-domestic rates policy.