With parts of today’s Autumn Statement already leaked to the press, the British Independent Retailers Association’s ceo Andrew Goodacre is among those concerned that there will be another delay to plans to reform the outdated business rates system.
The Association is among those who have long lobbied the government to cut business rates permanently, reducing the burden on independents still struggling to recover from the pandemic, many of which are saddled with extra debt accrued during lockdown.
“It would appear that the Government is again delaying fundamental reform to business rates – disappointing to say the least, as they have had 12 months since the consultation on rates reform closed.
“While the Chancellor may not want to introduce wholesale reform today, the least he can do is to re-introduce the retail discount,” continued Andrew. “This scheme was already in place pre-Covid, so bringing this back is not wholesale reform but doing what we had before. Something has to be done to ease the cumulative cost burden being faced by small retailers. Doing nothing is the clearest sign yet that the government is writing off physical retail.”
Ahead of the Autumn Statement, Bira had encouraged its members, as well as the wider independent retail sector, to write to their MP about business rates ahead of today’s statement.
Top: Chancellor Rishi Sunak will be delivering his Autumn Statement today.
