Rachel Reeves’s ‘jobs tax’ is killing high streets, warns Andrew Griffith | Politics | News
High streets are at the beating heart of Britainโs economy and our communities. But todayโs report from Parliamentโs Business and Trade Committee confirms what shopkeepers already know: business rates, retail crime, employment and energy costs are disproportionately hammering high street businesses.
Thatโs what I hear week in and week out from entrepreneurs and business owners who are fighting to keep the lights on. On Monday, I was in Godalming with Kemi Badenoch, speaking to local retailers, cafรฉ owners and family businesses. Their message was clear – the system as it stands threatens their very survival.
Labourโs Jobs Tax has it more expensive to hire staff. Their so-called Unemployment Bill will bury employers under red tape and legal risk. The result? Fewer jobs, fewer shops and more boarded-up high streets.
The Chancellorโs business rate hikes are for many the final straw. A fixed tax that has to be paid before any profit is made and regardless of whether high street shoppers are actually spending.
Only the Conservatives have the team, the plan and the leader with experience of business and the backbone to act. We will cut business rates entirely for tens of thousands of High Street businesses by clamping down on a welfare system that incentivises too many people not to work.
We will also tackle the scourge of retail crime. Shoplifting and abuse are now routine in many shops. Thatโs why we will recruit 10,000 more police officers, strengthen neighbourhood policing, end early release of prisoners and give the police the powers they need to protect businesses.
We will scrap the carbon tax on electricity and implement our Cheap Power Plan which will cut bills by nearly ยฃ5,000 for the average restaurant and over ยฃ1,100 for the average pub.
So the choice is simple. Labour โ as always – will tax, regulate. Conservatives will back business, cut costs and stand up for those who take risks and create wealth.
If we want thriving high streets, we need a government thatโs on the side of business โ a Conservative Government.
