14Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sunak must come out of hiding and slash taxes on high street to prevent winter collapse

Sunak must come out of hiding and slash taxes on high street to prevent winter collapse

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have urged the Chancellor to "come out of hiding" and support high street businesses struggling with the impact of the new Omicron variant. The party is calling for an urgent £4.5 billion package of tax cuts for local businesses to help ailing high streets across the UK survive the winter. This package would see the reinstatement of the emergency 5% rate of VAT for hospitality, accommodation and attractions and 100% business rates relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. These changes would offer a vital lifeline to over 800,000 businesses, who are looking ahead to another bleak winter - with increasing Covid restrictions hampering their ability to operate and trade normally. The Government has so far refused to offer any additional support for businesses despite the…
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09Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group at risk of collapse shows need for furlough extension

Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group at risk of collapse shows need for furlough extension

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group is at risk of collapsing after it filed a notice to appoint administrators, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The fact that thousands of jobs are at risk as Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group faces collapse clearly underlines the extent of the challenge to businesses across the UK and to all of those struggling to get by. "Rishi Sunak cannot simply dismiss those struggling as not viable, and pretend that somehow the economy is on anything like a path to reopening. "The Chancellor must announce today a guarantee of more support for those who desperately need it, including extending furlough until next June and broadening it to support everyone. If the Government doesn't roll out more support these job losses will just…
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09Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems: Consequences of Chancellor ignoring our high streets already clear

Parliamentary news
Responding to the reports that two of the UK's largest high street retailers, John Lewis and Boots, have announced a combined cut of 5,300 jobs, Liberal Democrat Business Spokesperson Sarah Olney said: “The scale of today’s layoffs show the true extent of the crisis facing British high streets. The Conservative Government had the chance to provide real relief for our high streets in yesterday’s summer statement, but instead the Chancellor did nothing for the vast majority of businesses outside of hospitality. "We cannot allow the Government to forget that behind each job loss statistic lies a household struggling to make ends meet. These job losses will devastate our communities and leave families wondering how they are going to get by in the months to come. "The coronavirus crisis has left…
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29Mar 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Daytime Economy Task Force also needed to save our high streets, says Liberal Democrat leader

Borough news, Campaigns
The Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Council Leader congratulating him on establishing a ‘night-time economy taskforce’ and asking him to do the same for the day-time economy to help save high streets across the borough. Commenting Councillor Sykes said: “Our high streets are slowly dying and if we want vibrant retail and leisure centres across our borough, not just in Oldham but also in Shaw, Uppermill, Royton, Lees, Chadderton and Failsworth, we must do all we can to help them. Otherwise I fear that more and more stores will close in the Spindles and Town Square shopping centres and we will see the encroachment of yet more charity shops, which benefit from being exempted from…
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20Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Cable: Govt must level the playing field between the high street and online

Parliamentary news
Responding to the report by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee calling on the Government to consider the options of an online sales tax and reforms to business rates, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said: “While our high streets are going through an extremely difficult time, with the right action from government, councils, businesses and local communities, they can prosper once again. “Instead of trying to recreate the high streets of the past, our towns and cities need to tailor their offer to local tastes and focus on experiences at a time of growing demand for online shopping. “There must be a level playing field between brick and mortar businesses and online companies. Business rates should be replaced with a land value tax that encourages businesses to invest.…
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