Rachel Reeves has been criticised for risking a “vital” part of British heritage while publicans await details of the expected Labour U-turn on business rates.
Last year, more than one pub across England and Wales closed their doors every day.
However, the forecast for this year is even more grim, with around 500 British watering holes expected to shut up shop under the Treasury’s current plans to slap business rates on the boozers.
Speaking to local residents in a Lancashire pub, GB News’ reporter Sophie Reaper said landlords up and down the UK are anxious to hear how the Chancellor’s upcoming plans will impact them.
“Now pubs are, of course, a staple for Great Britain. It is something that communities rely on,” Sophie added, having spent the morning with the Lancashire locals.
Making his case for the breweries, Nick said: “Pubs are part of the heritage in the history of the United Kingdom. They are a vital part of that heritage, history and culture and this place reflects how perfectly people come in.
“It’s a community asset. You get all sorts of different people.
“We have discussions, debates, whatever, but we’re all mates at the end of the day.”
Local residents at the Great Harwood speak to GB News
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GB NEWS
Meanwhile, Dave weighed in, adding: “There’s not many pubs now… There’s so many shut in now and there’s the community. There’s nowhere else to go. There’s nowhere else.
“Where do we go from there?”
Publicans across the nation continue to be reeling from Ms Reeves’ Budget, where she announced she would slap increased business rates on the British staple.
But, over Christmas, the Treasury announced a potential climbdown on the rates which was widely welcomed by political opponents.
However, several weeks on, Ms Reeves is yet to outline how she plans to offer a lifeline to Britain’s breweries.
LATEST FROM RACHEL REEVES:
Rachel Reeves is expected to unveil plans on Tuesday
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PA
While industry workers are under the impression the Labour Chancellor will unveil the support measures on Tuesday, Ms Reeves is expected to turn her nose up at permanent assurances, the Telegraph reports.
Instead, she is expected to ease the pain from Labour’s tax raid by handing out a temporary support package to the struggling businesses.
So far in the campaign to defend the hospitality industry, advocates have pleaded for a 20p discount to the rates, a demand that has been echoed by rebel Labour backbenchers.
But Ms Reeves has suggested any help offered from Labour would be exclusive to Britain’s pubs, coming as a blow to the remainder of the hospitality industry.
Nevertheless, the pressure on the Government continues to mount.
Last week, a publican issued a stark warning to the Chancellor on GB News, setting Ms Reeves a deadline by which time she must announce her U-turn on business rates before business owners take “industrial action”.
Speaking to GB News, pub landlord Andy Lennox hit out at the Chancellor for attending the World Economic Forum in Davos instead of helping British pubs at home.
Discussing the situation facing business owners, Mr Lennox told GB News: “I’ve kind of lost count how many people are actually banning Labour MPs from pubs now. But ultimately we are getting to a stage now where we have been waiting about 10 days, maybe a little bit longer, and still nothing.
“And whilst we’ve been still campaigning and still saying we need support, we still haven’t got anywhere or any kind of information from the Chancellor, and now obviously she’s swanned off to Davos.”