High streets are the lifeblood of communities like ours - Labour has a plan to help them thrive
Britain’s high streets have fallen into decline over the last 14 years. There are now 3,710 fewer fruit and veg shops, butchers and newsagents than there were when the Conservatives were elected in 2010.
Whilst Stockport’s streets are home to many brilliant small businesses, many of their owners have told me of the significant challenges they face due to the current economic climate. I recently raised the fact that a quarter of Stockport’s pubs have closed since 2010 in the House of Commons, a pattern which is replicated in communities up and down the country.
Raising Stockport’s hospitality sector in the latest budget debate in the House of Commons.
This decline is the culmination of soaring living costs and eye-watering mortgage and rent payments, which together are putting huge pressures on local businesses in Stockport and across Britain. Adding to this is the impact of current business rates, which, as I have discussed with local business owners, disproportionately penalise brick-and-mortar businesses.
The decimation of small businesses 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. We are witnessing a huge increase in abuse against shopworkers, with 2 in 5 shopworkers now facing verbal or physical abuse on a weekly basis.
As a USDAW member and former retail worker, I have long backed the campaign for the Government to pass legislation to address this urgent issue by making the assault of shopworkers a specific crime. Despite years of campaigning, the Conservative Government is only now u-turning on its opposition to the introduction of this vital law. As I have raised in the House of Commons on multiple occasions, this inaction has put millions of shopworkers in danger, and furthered the decline of the British high street.
With rising numbers of shops shutting their doors and shoplifting and antisocial behaviour on the rise, Britain’s high streets are showing the signs of fourteen years of neglect. That’s why I am pleased to back Labour’s 5-point plan to support the Great British high street to thrive.
1) Tackle anti-social behaviour and shoplifting
So that people feel safe when they go out to shop, eat or socialise in their local high street, Labour will put 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs back on the beat and scrap the Tories’ £200 rule which stops shoplifting being investigated.
2) Roll out banking hubs
Since 2022, 385 towns in Britain have also seen their last bank branch close or announce that they will be closing imminently. I have met with staff at bank branches in Stockport and discussed the impact of these closures, which leave people and businesses without any options to bank locally and have a disproportionate impact on elderly and disabled residents who are more likely to require a face-to-face service.
Labour will roll out banking hubs to guarantee face-to-face banking in every community boosting local high streets and shops. The cost of opening and operating the hubs will be met collectively by the banks.
3) Replace business rates
Labour will replace business rates with a new system of business property taxation which rebalances the burden and levels the playing field between our high streets and online giants.
4) Stamp out late payments
Small and independent retailers shouldn’t be forced to wait months to be paid for work by big clients. Labour will introduce tough new laws to stamp out late payments and make sure more money gets to high street firms.
5) Revamp empty shops, pubs and community spaces
People won’t visit high streets blighted by unsightly boarded up shops. Labour will give communities a strong new ‘right to buy’ beloved community assets to revamp high streets and end the blight of empty premises.
