Overview
- Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith pledged 100% business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure, taking 250,000 high‑street premises out of the system.
- Conservative MP Mark Pritchard warned that higher prices for eggs, bacon and other staples threaten cafés and the traditional full English on the high street.
- Communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said the government recognises the pressure on firms and linked it to years of weak productivity growth.
- Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson said the Budget later this month will introduce permanently lower rates for affected high‑street businesses.
- Liberal Democrats called for faster action to cut energy bills, and Lisa Smart cited industry research warning that proposed April rates changes could put about 120,000 jobs at risk.