Overview
- Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the government recognises pubs face steep bill increases from combined changes, pointed to a £4.3bn transitional relief fund already in place, and confirmed talks with the sector are ongoing.
- The Independent reports ministers expect Chancellor Rachel Reeves to extend some form of business-rates relief for pubs, though McFadden declined to predict a U-turn and Sky News described unconfirmed suggestions that any help could focus on pubs rather than hotels.
- Industry estimates suggest large increases in liabilities, with the Pubs Advisory Service calculating an average pub’s bill rising by about £11,000, or 37%, and UKHospitality warning hotels face even bigger jumps over the coming years.
- Pub operators are organising a national action on 30 January and discussing coordinated measures such as delayed opening and symbolic protests, while some venues have barred Labour MPs and displayed “no Labour MPs” stickers.
- Political pressure is intensifying, with Labour backbenchers urging a rethink and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pledging to scrap business rates for thousands of pubs under a future Tory government.