New low for Rachel Reeves as furious pub bosses threaten strike action | Politics | News

Nigel Farage warned the move would be the “death knell for rural pubs in England”. Pubs have already been hit hard by higher national insurance contributions for employers and an increase in the minimum wage. They were also affected by the reassessment of property tax rates and the expiration of rate relief for lodging facilities during the pandemic.

Now the industry is calling on Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Reeves to “accept the inevitable” and announce a U-turn. Star Pubs boss Lawson Mountstevens told the Sun: “The strength of feeling on this issue is clear and shows the unique place pubs have in British society.

“We want to engage constructively and positively with as many MPs as possible, whether in pubs or in parliament, to press for a fairer and more proportionate solution for local people.”

Landlords are reportedly demanding a reduction in VAT, which they say could prevent a strike expected to begin at the end of the month.

The action is expected to be similar to that seen by farmers who saw tractors closing down Whitehall, eventually leading to a partial Government cut in Family Farm Tax, which saw farms subject to inheritance tax for the first time.

The Daily Express campaigned to stop the Family Farm Tax from the moment it was first announced, amid nationwide fears that it could destroy the farming sector and cause irreparable damage to rural Britain.

More than 1,000 pubs across the country have reportedly banned Labor MPs in protest against business rates changes, amid mounting pressure on the government to rethink its tax plans.

There was pressure even from Sir Keir’s own MPs; York Central’s Rachael Maskall claimed in Prime Minister’s Questions that he wanted to “avoid a crisis on York’s high street”, while asking: “Can the Prime Minister urgently review the business rates proposals?” he said.