Burnham offers 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music in England – UK politics live | Politics
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Reynolds also said he would welcome Gary Lineker and other UK-based millionaires to increase the amount they pay into the public coffers after demanding a wealth tax.
But whether Andy Burnham’s government will take into account what he wants is none of his business. He said:
Look, today is the fourth day of the new government and obviously major tax changes will be announced with a certain budget.
I welcome well-off people saying they want to pay more. They may pay more.
There’s a link on Gov.uk but look, we have to look at tax policy on tour and we only make major tax announcements in budgets.
Treasury Chief Executive says Burnham’s business rate cuts are ‘fully funded’
Treasury chief secretary Emma Reynolds insisted plans to cut business rates for hospitality venues were fully funded as it was announced that changes to the rules requiring payment for e-cigarette shops and online marketplaces were under review and consultation.
He told Sky News:
This is fully funded and will be funded in several key ways. Firstly, by looking at business rate reductions for businesses that cause social harm, such as e-cigarette shops, and secondly, by putting pressure on online businesses that do not pay VAT.
He added:
I am confident that as Secretary-General, when I look at the figures and we will set out the figures in more detail in the budget, we will fund this announcement in the ways that I have just mentioned.
There may be additional measures that we will look at, but those are the two main ways to fund business rates relief.
Iain Hoskins, owner of Ma Pub Group in Liverpool, said an extra 20% reduction in business rates would help “mitigate” the increased cost, but cast doubt on how many venues the change would cover.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
Frankly, the concern is that in recent years, so from last year to this year, when our venues have been revalued, we have seen increases of between 100% and 150% in the rates we pay.
This shows how much they have increased. And 20% – especially if that 20% is above 15% and there are other benefits – that can be very meaningful for businesses like mine that are independent businesses; I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but last year the increases were so large that we’re now moving away from some of those increases.
He added:
In fact… we are not getting better value than we had before. We still need to find extra money for these business rates. But you know, it’s actually comforting that some of this is being alleviated quickly. 20 percent is not an insignificant number.
Andy Burnham said it was time to support the disappearance of “valuable local areas” by cutting business rates.
He wrote about Prime Minister X:
I’m giving 20% off business rates to thousands of pubs, clubs and music venues.
I will not stand by as these precious local spaces disappear, replaced by boarded up windows and ‘For Sale’ signs.
They are the heart of our community and it is time we support them.
Burnham cuts business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues in England by 20%
Good morning and welcome to the UK politics liveblog.
Andy Burnham will cut business bills for pubs, clubs and live music venues in England by 20% from next April.
It is the new prime minister’s latest announcement to support local high streets and his latest measure to tackle costs for working people and communities.
Burnham said the £100 million package would be fully funded, including a review of aid for businesses that do not make a positive contribution to communities, such as vape shops. He said:
For too long, governments have stood by and watched as beloved venues disappeared from our local high streets. So today I’m changing that.
This government will support businesses that people want to see in their communities. I said I would protect pubs and local high streets, which are the beating heart of our communities, and that’s what we will do.
According to the government, the cut will benefit around 32,000 pubs, clubs and live music venues, with the typical pub saving an estimated £1,100 in the next financial year. Support will be targeted to exclude the largest live music venues.
Hospitality groups are expected to welcome the plan, which they say will create much-needed certainty for businesses looking to invest, grow and create jobs at a time of mounting financial pressures.
Other cost of living announcements this week – capping bus fares at £2 and reducing VAT on electricity bills – have raised questions about how they will be paid for, with the new administration under pressure to lay out the details of its proposals in more detail.
Read the full story here:
In other developments:
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New chancellor John Healey says the government will return to its commitment to overhaul the wider business rates systemthe budget includes easing small business rates.
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Ministers also plan to crack down on businesses that sell through online marketplaces but fail to comply with their tax obligationsIt puts them at an unfair advantage over those who do this and is consulting on measures to make these marketplaces more accountable in this regard.
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Burnham announced the government will reduce VAT on electricity bills by an average of £45 a year from October. This will be funded by the decision to cancel the digital identity plan, officials said.
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The Prime Minister also announced that he will reduce the fare cap per journey from £3 to £2 next year.It is financed primarily by converting international climate donations into repayable loans.
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Burnham has been dragged into a deepening political row after ordering a review of early release plans Thousands of murderers, rapists and sex offenders were released from prison in September.
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Crime victims accuse ministers of ‘cheap jokes’ over early release of prisoners After Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood’s “tells” about the plan were caught on camera.
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Scottish Labour’s rivals at Holyrood have slammed Anas Sarwar’s decision to resign as leader to join Andy Burnham’s new governmentcalls him a “lucky guy” and accuses him of lying to voters.
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Conservatives ask HMRC to investigate whether Nigel Farage should pay tax on £5m gift He received it from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.
