The new prime minister’s announcement on business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues is welcome.
I’ve consistently argued that our pubs matter because they are part of the fabric of our communities and our local economy. They bring people together, support local jobs and help keep our high streets alive, often in buildings of rich heritage which we should safeguard.
But I’ve also made the point that the pressures facing pubs are the same pressures being felt across the whole hospitality sector that are connected in one ecosystem, which is why the wider support is encouraging too.
Balancing this relief by paying for it through a review of other types of high street businesses like vape shops shows that we know what is needed to rebuild high streets.
Relief for venues like these is the right thing to do. Now we need to keep going so we can protect what we already have while rebuilding stronger, busier town centres for the future.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 