Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Morrison Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[James Murray]

As the Prime Minister made clear when he took office, we are giving pubs and community venues real breathing space through the 20% cut to their business rates, but our reform of business rates and our support for the high street does not end there. We are considering every possible opportunity to support retail, hospitality and leisure businesses on the high street, so that high streets in all our communities across the country can thrive.

[Mr Tom Morrison (Cheadle) (LD)]

I recently visited the Station House in Cheadle Hulme, one of the Almond family’s five pubs in Stockport, and spoke to the owner, Doug, about how hard it was for him to run his business. Like many pub owners across the country, the Almonds welcome the 20% cut in business rates, but they are contending with a system that penalises hospitality. The Minister dodged the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse), so may I ask him to commit himself now? Will the Government overhaul the business rates system so that community pubs such as the Station House can help our high streets to thrive?

[James Murray]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for talking about the Station House in his constituency; I am sure we all have pubs in our own neighbourhoods that we feel are at the heart of the local communities that we represent.

The 20% business rates cut that we announced was a down payment on further reform. We will continue to look into what we can do to support pubs, hospitality and other high street uses, because we know how much they matter to everyone in this Chamber and all the people whom we represent.