Rachel Reeves is in the Commons to announce a £300 million support package for pubs – around £100 million a year until 2029. No fundamental changes to business rates, and nothing for the rest of the hospitality sector either. Starmer would still be lucky to get into his local after this…
UPDATE: The measures:
- From April every pub in England will get 15% off new bills.
- Rates will after be frozen in real terms for three years.
- 75% of pubs will see bills fall or stay the same next year.
- Music venues included.
UPDATE II: John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, responds:
“These changes will do little to avert the existential crisis facing pubs and come too late for the many establishments which have already called last orders for the final time. Even after these half-hearted changes, pubs and hospitality venues still face soaring business rates, rising staff costs from increases to national insurance and the minimum wage, as well as sky-high energy bills. A perfect storm cooked up in the Treasury.”
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