MP’S call for an urgent review of rates burden

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has helped champion small business in Bath by asking Jacob Rees Mogg, Leader of the House of Commons, to urgently review business rates and “substantially reduce this tax on retail”.

Ms Hobhouse, inset, asked her question with reference to Small Business Saturday, which took place last weekend on December 5.

She also spoke about the loss of high-street chains, including Debenhams, which will cost the UK 25,000 jobs.

In response to her question, Jacob Rees Mogg claimed he had “a very considerable joint interest” in businesses in B&NES “doing well”, given that he represents North East Somerset.

He emphasised that the Government was doing a review of business rates currently and would report back on the findings of that review in spring 2021.

Following the exchange Wera Hobhouse said: “I am pleased to hear that Jacob Rees Mogg is also committed to the prosperity of businesses in Bath.

“B&NES Council has been doing everything they can to provide business relief to Bath’s Small Businesses – but without further help from Government to support our council, there is a limit to what is possible.

“Government must make it easier for councils to support small businesses and stop making them choose between standing up for business or cutting essential services.

“I was pleased to be able to support Bath’s small shops on Small Business Saturday, but many businesses need more help than our community can give, this holiday season. Government must urgently report their findings on the business rates review and change to this unfair system.”

Ms Hobhouse also tabled an Early Day Motion last week in a continued campaign to support disabled workers through the pandemic. The Early Day Motion has now earned the support of 29 Members of Parliament, representing eight political parties and one independent MP. The motion calls on Government to “introduce a Jobs Guarantee for newly unemployed disabled people” and to show “leadership” to ensure the UK does not backslide on the progress which has been made over the “25 years since the

Disability Discrimination Act was introduced”.

The campaign is based on research by the charity Leonard Cheshire, showing that 71 percent of disabled people employed in March have been impacted by loss of income, furlough, or unemployment.

Ms Hobhouse said: “I am proud of how many MPS, from all sides of the political spectrum, have come together to support this important cause. Disabled workers add so much to so many different sectors across Bath and the wider country. We cannot let the unintended consequence of Covid-19 be the exclusion of disabled people from our economy.”

She added: “I am pleased that after a month of campaigning on this issue I will be meeting with the Minister for Disabled People on December 14 to talk through my proposals.”