During Andy Burnham’s first Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir John Whittingdale pressed the Prime Minister on business rates relief, highlighting the pressures facing high street businesses including hair salons, post offices and booksellers. Sir John called for wider relief and action to reduce the cost burden he says is affecting jobs, while the Prime Minister indicated that further support for high streets is being considered.
Debate Highlights
John Whittingdale Conservative, Maldon
Within a few days of the Prime Minister taking office, he announced business rates relief for pubs, clubs and live music venues, but I have spent the summer talking to businesses like hair salons, post offices and booksellers, all of which are just as important in the high street as those that have already been given help. Will he now commit to give business rates relief to all high street businesses and to get rid of this cost, which is destroying jobs?
Andy Burnham Leader of the Labour Party, The Prime Minister
I thank the right hon. Member for making a point that I made myself in the Makerfield By-election. I do think that there is more we need to do to support our high streets. I have made a start with pubs and live music venues, but I do believe we need to go further, in exactly the way he describes. I think it is a case of rebalancing the system—some of the large entities and warehouses do not, in percentage terms, pay the same amount in business rates—so that we can support those businesses on the high street that are doing public good and they are able to get a reduction to enable them to survive. That is something that I am looking at. I think we need to get serious about our high streets. We need to take action on those that cause harm—I have mentioned vape shops and adult gaming centres—and we need to do more to support those that do good.
Watch Sir John’s full question and Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s response below: