Overview
- Speaking in Liverpool, Angela Rayner called for a dedicated night-time economy minister and urged a review of business rates to better support hospitality and high streets.
- She warned venues face a "triple whammy" of pressures from business rates, VAT, higher minimum and living wages, and energy costs.
- The government’s package gives every pub in England a 15% discount on business rates with a real-terms freeze for two years, stopping short of wider reform.
- UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association estimate average pub bills will still rise by around 15%, or about £1,400, in April despite the measures.
- Regional leaders including Andy Burnham pushed for broader tax changes such as a lower VAT rate, while new union backing for Rayner underscored tensions inside Labour.