Responding during Treasury questions in the House of Commons, to the question “What fiscal steps he is taking to support the renewal of high streets”, Rt Hon John Healey MP said: “This is a Government determined to help good councils and businesses breathe new life into our high streets and our town centres. In April, we introduced a permanent reduced tax rate for high street businesses, worth almost a billion pounds. In July, with the new Prime Minister, in the first week he and I announced a further 20% cut for pubs, social clubs and music venues. This is a Government that will do what it can to help bring a bit of breathing space from the cost of living and the cost of business. Later this year we will be producing as a Government our high street strategy. The move we made in July is a downpayment for further reform.”
Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “We welcome the Government’s commitment to deliver a strategy for high streets and Usdaw will be fully participating in pulling that together and ensuring all of retail benefits. It has to be recognised that large retail multiples are an important part of the retail mix needed to create thriving high streets and town centres.
“We have long called for reform of UK tax law to ensure that companies pay their fair share of tax, with the aim of creating a level playing field between online and in-store retailers. Alongside this we want funding for local authorities, so they can plan ahead and invest in their local economy, transport networks and high streets.
“Job security is a key priority for our members. The latest figures show that there were 66,000 fewer jobs in retail than a year ago. Retail is a crucial driver of employment and investment in the UK, directly employing 2.8 million people with a further 1.5 million jobs reliant on the success of the industry. The sector accounts for close to 10% of all jobs in the British economy. There needs to be substantial Government intervention in the retail sector to help save our shops and jobs.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest with around 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also represents many workers in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion