Victoria Collins

Victoria Collins

Liberal Democrat — Harpenden and Berkhamsted

Speaking in the House of Commons on 3 November 2026

Debate

Budget Resolutions

Contribution

Absolutely. That is why we need wholesale reform, looking at how we are supporting the businesses that need it and at the broken business rates system. Charlotte from Berkhamsted Bookshop tells me that the average independent bookshop will need to sell over 1,000 more books a year just to cover rising costs. Christopher, who runs a small martial arts academy in Tring, tells me that rising rent and service charges threaten his future, with almost no protection for small commercial tenants. Liberal Democrats have repeatedly called for more to be done to help our local businesses, including replacing business rates with a commercial landowner levy and cutting VAT on hospitality by 5p.

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