British shopkeepers make last-ditch plea to John Healey amid existential threat from dodgy vape shops

Earlier this year, the Home Secretary announced £30million in funding to raid and close thousands of illegal shops, arrest dodgy bosses and seize dirty cash.

Shabana Mahmood also told officials to urgently review the presence of vape shops, barbers, and more on the skilled worker sponsorship list, following concerns about exploiting the system.

But, in a joint statement, seen by GB News, store directors Natalie Lightfoot of Londis Solo Convenience in Glasgow, Trudy Davies of Woodnam & Davies News in Llanidloes, Wales, and Paul Cheema of Malcolm’s in Coventry said existing structures were not enough to protect family businesses.

The letter reads: “Good shopkeepers do things by the book. We check ID, we pay our duty, and we collect it for you, packet by packet.

“But more and more of us are doing all that while the shop down the road flogs illegal cigarettes and vapes at half the price.

“Honestly, it’s soul-destroying.”

The National Crime Agency suspects at least £12billion of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year, with £1billion laundered through high street businesses like mini-marts, barber shops, vape stores and sweet shops.

While current powers allow premises to close for up to six months, businesses can often reopen before investigations have concluded.

The shopkeepers add: “Regulars stop coming in and our margins get thinner every month.

“Some of these places are shifting stolen goods alongside the tobacco, and when one finally gets raided, it’s often back open within a few days.”

In the letter, the trio of shopkeepers alert Mr Healey that tobacco and vape shops are shifting stolen goods alongside their advertised goods.

HMRC forecast that tax lost to illegal tobacco trade sits at around a staggering £1.7billion over 2024/25, while enforcement teams seized 1.36 billion illicit cigarettes in just one year.

The trio called on the Treasury to hand Trading Standards ring-fenced funding for illegal tobacco and vapes in the next several years.

They also argue in favour of letting councils keep fines and seized cash, adding: “Not much in a Budget pays for itself, but this does.

“Every dodgy shop that closes means more sales for honest traders and more duty for the Treasury.”

Going one step further, much closer to home, the shopkeepers address rumours that Mr Healey is considering slapping income tax on handing down family businesses.

The potential change could double the cost to British business across the country, adding that “a bill like that leaves a lot of families with two options: sell to a chain, or shut up shop”.

“We get that you want to stop people dodging tax,” the statement adds.

“But a mum or dad passing the shop on to their kids isn’t dodging anything. It’s how the high street keeps going from one generation to the next. If you do go ahead, please carve out genuine family handovers.”