Horsham’s MP calls for fair business rates in the Budget to save our high streets

The letter to the Chancellor, which is signed by dozens of Parliament’s new cohort of Liberal Democrat MPs, states that under the country’s outdated business rates system “pubs, restaurants and shops are being forced to close” and “consumers are seeing the cost of this unfair tax passed on to them”.

According to John Milne: “Horsham’s high street has stood up to pressure better than most, which is testament to the hard work and adaptability of our amazing local retailers. But they’re not fighting on a level playing field. In their 2019 manifesto the Conservatives promised to reform business rates. But it never happened and the pressure on small businesses has grown year by year.”

The Liberal Democrats seek to replace business rates with a new, fair system by April 2026, making this Budget the last one to include business rates at all. The new system, known as a “Commercial Landowner Levy” would be based purely on the value of the land where the business is located and stay up to date with annual revaluations.

To help with today’s crisis while the reform is brought in, John Milne calls on the Chancellor to keep in place the existing 75% relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses; and to freeze at least the small business multiplier for the same period.

Mr Milne said: “Under a succession of Conservative government, our bricks and mortar high street businesses have seen their rates go up while out of town Amazon warehouses have seen their rates go down. It’s as if they were trying to kill off the high street.

“I hope this new government will see this Budget is an opportunity that must be taken, to overhaul business rates and ensure a prosperous future for Horsham’s highstreets and indeed all our local retail businesses across the district.”