The Chancellor has turned her back on pubs and will not provide them with the essential financial support, despite the Prime Minister warning many “will struggle” with changes to business rates.
Rachel Reeves announced in the last Budget there will be an end to the Covid-era business rates relief from April 2026.
Thousands of pubs will face closure as they will have to pay business rates amid a revaluation of their rateable values, this has sparked pub landlords across the UK banning Labour MPs from their bars.
Speaking to LBC the Prime Minister said, “We’re talking to the sector, particularly hospitality and pubs, about what further support we can put in, whether that’s licencing freedoms or other measures.
The Telegraph reported that the Treasury will not make changes to the tax policy for the sector.
On Monday Tom Kerridge, the TV chef said that the Business Secretary Peter Kyle, is “incredibly supportive” for the sector.
Kerridge told LBC, “[From] the conversation with Peter that isn’t something that he has control over. That sits in Treasury. He has a meeting with the Treasury next week. He’s presenting the case. He was incredibly supportive.”
Sir Keir Starmer told GB News, “We’re working with the sector, particularly in hospitality. Obviously, there were reductions [in business rates] in place because of Covid, which were going to come to an end.”
“There are then transitional provisions to help.
“The overall rating level is going down but I do acknowledge, for pubs and others, that the revaluation means that they will struggle in relation to the business rates applicable to them. That’s why we’re working with them.”
