Business rates: “Stealth tax on our high streets”

EMBARGO: Immediate Release 

Responding to reports that the changes to business rates from the budget will hit hospitality businesses the hardest, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

“First it was stealth taxes on households, and now it’s a stealth tax on our high streets.

“The Government recently gave itself the powers to reduce significantly lower business rates bills, but now they’re refusing to use them - instead using our high streets and treasured pubs as a cash cow for treasury coffers.

"The Chancellor needs to urgently come to Parliament and explain why it is that the business rates changes which she promised would help high streets are now giving them another hammering.

"Our pubs, cafes, and restaurants are already on their knees, and these choices will only force more high street businesses to shut up shop.

“The Government must throw our hospitality sector a lifeline. They must urgently fix this mess by using its powers to lower business rates and bring in the emergency hospitality VAT cut we Liberal Democrats have been calling for to save our high streets.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Reports can be found here.

The Lib Dems called for a hospitality VAT cut in the budget.