Reeves unlikely to roll out full pubs package across hospitality sector

Rachel Reeves has again suggested financial help for pubs will not be extended to other hospitality businesses during a visit to Leeds yesterday.

- by Harriet Sutton

(Photo: Simon Hulme/PA)

Asked whether she was risking killing off the high street by restricting aid to pubs, the Chancellor told journalists: "During the pandemic, quite rightly, a lot of temporary support was given to the hospitality sector, particularly to pubs, because they were closed. That's not same for the whole economy and not the same for the whole high street. Many shops were able to stay open during the pandemic, and so their valuations stayed pretty steady.

"But the valuations of pubs collapsed and, as a result, their business rates payable fell. In our business rates review, we have permanently reduced the business rate tax for our high streets and for smaller businesses.