Tory MP Alex Burghart has slammed the Government’s business rates policy, describing it as “pitiful” and warned it is putting local high streets and pubs at risk.
Speaking to GB News, Mr Burghart said the recent measures were “too little, too late” and argued the Government should follow the Conservative proposal from last October’s party conference: cut public spending and scrap business rates entirely.
On Tuesday, the Government confirmed English pubs and live‑music venues will receive a 15 per cent business rates discount from April.
This will be worth £1,650 for the average pub next year and will mean around three-quarters of pubs will see their bills stay the same, or fall, next year.
The package will mean in 2028/29, the business rates receipts from pubs for the Treasury will be lower than they are this year.
Eamonn Holmes asked the Tory frontbencher: "Have they done enough to make things easier and more prosperous for traders?"
Alex Burghart told GB News: "No. This is pitiful. It is too little, too late. What the Government should be doing is exactly what the Conservatives proposed at the party conference in October: just scrap business rates.
"Cut public spending, scrap business rates, that’s what will breathe life back into our high streets.
Alex Burghart said the recent measures were 'too little, too late'
|GB NEWS
"The tiny concession announced yesterday is barely a dent, just a small reduction in the planned increase. I visited one of my pubs in Brentwood, in my Essex constituency, the other day, and the landlord showed me his bills.
"He said the charges are basically going to double, and that rise is still going ahead tomorrow. So even after their so-called mitigations, people are still paying far too much.
"I think this is pitiful, and I very much hope the Government fully backs down. What they’re doing is destroying pubs and high streets.
"Sure, they’re trying to raise revenue for the Exchequer, but in reality, they’re harming businesses and likely not even bringing in the extra money they hope for."
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The Government confirmed that English pubs and live‑music venues will receive a 15 per cent discount
| GETTYDuring the announcement, Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said: "Pubs haven't had the support they needed for too long under the Conservatives.
"They are essential to the social and cultural life of so many places across the country."
Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said: "We welcome the recognition by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the scale of the challenges facing the hospitality sector.
"They have listened to us about the acute cost challenges facing businesses, all of which is impacting business viability, jobs, and consumer prices.
"The rising cost of doing business and business rates increases is a hospitality-wide problem that needs a hospitality-wide solution.
"The Government’s immediate review of hospitality valuations going forward is clear recognition of this."
However, some pub owners feel that it is not enough.
Guy Richardson, owner of The Bright Star pub in Hertfordshire, told the People's Channel: "This is total cow-poo and misleading.
"In fact it means that after the massively increased rates are applied, a 15 per cent reduction is then applied.
"This merely covers up the fact that businesses are paying significantly higher rates than before which are locked in for 3 years.
"This applies to not just pubs. In this industry we still recognise that pubs will continue to close at an accelerated rate so no change whatsoever."
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