Call for major reforms to ease pressure on ailing high street

THE Government needs a series of major reforms to arrest business closures and decline on the high street - including cutting costs, overhauling business rates and ending late payments, according to an influential committee.

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A report by Parliament's Business and Trade Committee found small business across the UK are operating under pressures similar to, and in some cases worse than, those experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Liam Byrne, chair of the committee, said a “more coherent and ambitious plan” is needed to support businesses.

The fresh report by the committee found that current pressure are “cumulative, structural and self-reinforcing”.