A senior Conservative MP launched a blistering attack on David Lammy after high street businesses slammed Labour for not extending business rates support beyond pubs.
Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith, who deputised for Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch during Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions today, accused the Government of “blocking people who want to get on in life” after hotels, restaurants and local businesses missed out on fresh tax cuts.
He also described Mr Lammy as the “designated survivor” left behind in Westminster while Sir Keir Starmer arrived in China on the first visit by a serving British leader in eight years.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Griffith said: “I spent 25 years building businesses, creating jobs; he spent 25 years manufacturing grievance.
“And if the party opposite knew anything about business, they would know this is too little too late.
“Our high streets, their high streets, are bleeding out and the Chancellor’s handing out a box of sticking plasters.
“If the party opposite knew anything about business this is too little too late…They can’t even U-turn properly.
“A senior advisor to Andy Burnham said yesterday the Chancellor just wants a cheap headline. Meanwhile, our High Streets are being decimated.”
Andrew Griffith said Labour ‘can’t even U-turn properly’
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HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr Griffith also accused the Prime Minister of “crushing Andy Burnham’s dreams” after the Mayor of Greater Manchester was blocked from standing as Labour’s candidate in the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election by the party’s National Executive Committee.
He said: “This Government is blocking people who just want to get on in life.
“Ambitious people like Andy (Burnham) from Manchester having his dreams crushed by Labour.”
The Government confirmed a support package of business rate relief for pubs on Tuesday, following warnings that changes from November’s autumn budget would lead to mass closures and job losses.
Labour announced a support package of business rate reliefs on Tuesday
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PA
It will see pubs and live music venues in England benefit from 15 per cent off their business rates bills from April.
However, the fresh intervention was met with a mixed reaction, with some pub bosses cheering the support while others raised concerns over its scope.
Other hospitality businesses such as hotels, restaurants and cafes will not receive additional support despite their own concerns over soaring tax bills.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said “pubs are different”, when asked why other hospitality operators would not benefit.
Speaking at a pub in south-east London yesterday, the Chancellor said: “In the budget, we reformed how the business rates system worked and we put in £4.3billion to support businesses as we start to unwind the pandemic era support, and that’s the right thing to do because that pandemic support can’t continue forever.
“But we recognise that after the pandemic, valuations of many pubs have increased sharply and that’s put pressure on pubs.”
She said she understood concerns about hotels and high street businesses, but added: “Pubs are different.
“They are a huge community asset. Seven thousand pubs closed under the last Conservative government and we’ve got to do more to protect our pubs.”
