Business Improvement District Ballots: Digital Voting

Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway Excerpts

Monday 20th April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

The decline in our town centres—I speak from personal experience—started long before this Government came to power. Our Government are delivering on their manifesto commitment to protect the high street and rebalance the business rates system by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. We will bring forward our high streets strategy later this year.

[Baroness O’Grady of Upper Holloway (Lab)]

Is my noble friend aware of research showing that low-paid workers are much more likely to spend their wages on the local high street and in the local economy? Will she join me in encouraging noble Lords to talk to workers on the national minimum wage so that they realise what a difference that rise will make to their lives and those of their families?

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

I agree with my noble friend that everybody should be paid a proper wage for the job they do. She is quite right that money earned in local areas is often spent locally by those on lower wages, so it is very important that we do that. One thing that really affected our high streets was the legislation that made shop theft of below £200 a summary-only offence. That has now been removed by this Government so that we can make our town centres not only vibrant and viable but safe.