Andy Burnham, the Labour candidate in the Makerfield by-election, has set out a plan for pubs and the high street.
He said he would like to see business rates reduced for pubs and music venues by 20%, and for high street businesses like cafes and shops to be taken out of business rates altogether.
He said it would be funded by charging online tech giants fairer rates and taking action on empty stores on the high-street.
Our response
Allen Simpson, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: “It’s right to recognise that high street hospitality businesses are the heart and soul of Britain and, crucially, that the system is broken and in need of reform.
“The challenges facing local businesses are universal and affect all types of venue, from pubs and restaurants to cafés and hotels. An effective high street strategy needs to deliver a hospitality-wide solution to deliver for all businesses, high streets, towns, cities and communities.
“To reverse the trend of closures and lost jobs into openings and new jobs, that strategy needs to include a plan for delivering lower business rates and a 10% rate of VAT for hospitality.
“We continue to have discussions with government about business rates bills for the next two years of this current cycle and continue to have positive conversations with all major parties about business rates across England, Scotland and Wales.”
Find out more
First Minister makes business rates a 100 day priority – our response
The First Minister said addressing concerns with business rates was one of his four business priorities in his first 100 days.
Unemployment rises in March – our response
Rising unemployment and fewer job opportunities is the result of endless cost increases for hospitality businesses.
New Welsh Government should harness hospitality’s potential
Cutting business taxes and reforming business rates can help drive hospitality growth and job creation, UKHospitality Cymru said.
