Supporting High Streets

Debate between Vikki Slade and Andrew Griffith

Tuesday 4th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Griffith]

I am enormously concerned. I was concerned when I woke up this morning, and I am even more concerned after hearing the intervention from our Chancellor: no certainty, confidence plummeting, and the promise of more taxes to follow.

[Vikki Slade (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (LD)]

I hope that the shadow Minister will explain something to me. I totally agree that business rates need reform, but I am deeply concerned about the hole in local government finance that it will cause. My local council, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, has calculated that it retains £66 million from business rates. Can he please tell me where that will come from?