High Street Retailers

Karl Turner Excerpts

Wednesday 5th February 2025 Westminster Hall

[Karl Turner (in the Chair)]

I will call Mr Gregory Campbell to move the motion and then the Minister to respond. There will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up, as is the convention for a 30-minute debate.

[Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)]

I beg to move,

That this House has considered Government support for high street retailers.

This subject has concentrated minds for a number of years, and we are all affected by the problems associated with high street retailing. In fact, Mary Portas said that the future of the high street will involve

“less retail but better retail”—

that was about three years ago. I am afraid that those who say there are difficulties or problems in the high street are mistaken, because unless towns across the United Kingdom are different from the towns I experience in Northern Ireland, high street retailing is in more than just difficulty. Unless there is dramatic, innovative intervention, the high street in the United Kingdom as we know it will die.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Campbell]

I look forward to hearing the Minister respond to that, as it sounds like a concept worth pursuing. I thank the Minister for being in his place Hopefully, he will be able to respond positively, to give us an indication of what the Government intend to do and to take a really radical look at our high streets in the next few years.

[Karl Turner (in the Chair)]

I call Imogen Walker to make a brief speech.