Labour is planning to rescue our failing High Streets as the party pledges ‘full force of government to breathe life into Britain’s high streets
The party has found that more than 3,700 newsagents, butchers and fruit and veg shops have closed since the Tories first entered government in 2010.
As part of the plans Labour will replace business rates with a new system of business property taxation which rebalances the burden and levels the playing field between our high streets and online giants.
It will Roll out banking hubs guarantee face-to-face banking in every community boosting local high streets and shops and plans to tackle anti-social behaviour and shoplifting: so that people feel safe when they go out to shop, eat or socialise in their local high street, putting 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs back on the beat and scrapping the Tories’ £200 rule which stops shoplifting being investigated.
Reeves said: “High streets are the lifeblood of communities across Britain. However, they have been left neglected after 14 years of Conservative decline.
“Labour will breathe new life into our high streets. We will create the conditions to get retailers thriving again by replacing business rates, opening hundreds of banking hubs across the country and stamping out late payments to get them paid on time.
“No one expects a return to the past, but Labour’s plan can get our town centres booming again by tackling these problems that are holding them back.”
Shopworkers Union boss Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says:
“The scale of the challenge the retail industry faces is huge. With very high numbers of job losses and store closures that are scarring our high streets and communities, there are substantial issues that need to be addressed. Usdaw has long called for a robust plan for the future of retail work that addresses both the immediate and urgent priorities facing the industry and staff, as well as wider measures to help deliver better jobs.
“The Tories have failed to listen and failed to act. Today’s announcement by Labour shows that only they in government will deliver the much needed and long overdue help the retail industry needs. Action on business rates, tackling retail crime and a new deal for working people are at the top of our list of priorities. Only by working together can we help to deliver the better jobs retail workers need and deserve, while securing the future viability of the industry for the benefit of customers, workers, communities and our economy.”
