Labour pledges 'full force of government’ to breathe life into Britain’s high streets
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The “full force of a Labour government” will breathe life into
Britain's high streets, the party has pledged as it launches its
plan to rescue retailers. On a visit to Tees Valley today
(Wednesday), Labour's Deputy Leader, Shadow Chancellor, and Shadow
Home Secretary will unveil a five-point plan to reverse the Tories'
14 years of decline on Britain's cherished high streets. It comes
as Labour exposes the extent of the damage under the Conservatives
with a staggering...Request free trial
The “full force of a Labour government” will breathe life into Britain's high streets, the party has pledged as it launches its plan to rescue retailers. On a visit to Tees Valley today (Wednesday), Labour's Deputy Leader, Shadow Chancellor, and Shadow Home Secretary will unveil a five-point plan to reverse the Tories' 14 years of decline on Britain's cherished high streets. It comes as Labour exposes the extent of the damage under the Conservatives with a staggering 3,710 fewer fruit and veg shops, butchers, and newsagents since 2010. Rishi's recession has hammered small business and consumers alike, with the soaring cost of living, eye-watering mortgage and rent payments contributing to a net loss of 40,000 businesses registered for VAT in the economy last year. Labour's analysis has also found that since 2022 alone, an additional 385 towns have seen their last bank branch close, or announce that they will be closing imminently. This has left local people and businesses without any options to bank locally. The decimation to small business is coupled with record levels of shoplifting - up more than 30 per cent in a single year - and persistently high levels of antisocial behaviour, with a third of the public witnessing or experiencing it in their local area over the past 12 months. This is leaving shops and shoppers crippled by crime in their communities.
Labour will get a grip of the issues blighting Britain's high
streets and rejuvenate our towns and city centres with its plan
to:
In 2011, the government commissioned retail expert Mary Portas to conduct an independent review on the future of our high streets. As part of this, she advised that the government should consider whether business rates could better support small businesses and independent retailers. It also advocated imaginative community use of empty properties through Community Right to Buy. The failure of the Tory government to deliver for high streets has seen big-name retailers shut-up shop and footfall decline. Labour's plan will drive economic growth, and create jobs and opportunities for the future. Angela Rayner Rayner Rayner MP, Labour's Deputy Leader and Shadow Communities Secretary, said: “Our town and city centres are an untapped strength of Britain's economy. Yet across the country the paint is peeling, the pavements are cracking, and people just aren't getting what they want when they visit town. Tory chaos has cost the country dearly, and every region has paid the price. Labour will use the full force of government to get behind our high streets and spark the decade of national renewal that communities deserve.” Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, 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'll 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.” Yvette Cooper MP, Shadow Home Secretary, added:
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