Gareth Thomas

Gareth Thomas

Labour (Co-op) — Harrow West

Speaking in the House of Commons on 30 January 2025

Debate

Support for High Street Businesses

Contribution

One reason why the Conservatives lost the confidence of the British business community was that despite repeated promises to reform business rates, they took no steps to do so. We announced plans in the Budget, back in October, to reform business rates and introduce permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. The Conservatives were going to end business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure; we have chosen to extend it. We also announced in the Budget that we were looking at what further steps we could take on business rates reform.

More from Gareth Thomas

Other recent Hansard contributions by the same speaker.

About Hansard

Hansard is the official verbatim record of proceedings in the UK Parliament. Every word spoken in the Commons and Lords is recorded and published — this page is a single contribution from that record.

For Gareth Thomas's full parliamentary record including voting history, expenses and all other contributions, see the Gareth Thomas report card.