STARMER'S 'MISSION TO CRUSH' OUR HIGH STREETS

KEMI Badenoch claims Sir Keir Starmer is on a “mission to crush” high street hospitality firms.

- BY MARTYN BROWN

She warned he is “intent on killing high streets” as business rates soar by up to 182%, with the Tory leader fearing many hotels will struggle to survive. In a fresh assault on the Budget, Mrs Badenoch yesterday tore into the PM and Chancellor Rachel Reeves as hospitality bosses said they are at "breaking point".

She claimed firms are being strangled by higher taxes and government red tape, while analysis showed some hotels' rates have shot up by more than £100,000.

The Chancellor confirmed a new business rates system in April will cut rates multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure, funded by higher rates on larger commercial properties including warehouses.

It also means firms with bigger premises such as storage companies and supermarkets - will be hit with a property tax rise.

The Treasury said that this is designed to "rebalance the business rates system" and help smaller firms by increasing the burden on bigger operators. But Tim Rumney, chief executive of Best Western Hotels, warned the tax raid has left his sector "fighting for its life".

He said: "The detail that followed the Chancellor's Budget last week has exposed just how detached government policy has become from the reality facing Britain's independent hotels.

"What was presented as support for business is, in truth, a disproportionate tax raid on a sector already fighting for its life." He said the loss of the 40% business rates relief for hospitality plus a "token" 5p cut in the multiplier amounts to a direct and significant tax rise.