CHEERS! IT'S YET ANOTHER 'TOO LATE' RV DAVID WILLIAMSON.

Sir Keir starts year by flip-flopping again to water down pub business rate rises

- BY DAVID WILLIAMSON and JON KING

PLANS to ease huge business rates rises on pubs are "too little, too late", claim Tories.

Sir Keir Starmer's latest U-turn, after climbdowns on withdrawn winter fuel cash and farm taxes, was yesterday denounced as a "pitiful sticking plaster".

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch warned that the PM and Chancellor Rachel Reeves are “killing” pubs, as ministers scrambled to calm anger over the “devastating” surge in rates.

The government is expected to unveil a support package imminently.

But Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: “The problem is far bigger than pubs. Businesses right across Britain are at breaking point because of Rachel Reeves’ choices. Go further and give the rest of the retail, hospitality and leisure sector the support.”

Amid growing criticism, landlords had already banned Labour MPs from more than 1,000 venues.

Now Ms Reeves is expected to bow to pressure and unveil measures to stop well-loved pubs being put out of business by crippling rates bills.