Political opinion: Cllr Zack Ali hails Conservatives plan to abolish business rates for Crawley high street

The Conservatives want to see our high streets thriving again, which is why their plan will abolish business rates for high street shops, cutting taxes for 250,000 retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. Only the Conservatives, under new leadership, have a plan to back our local businesses to deliver a stronger economy.

Cllr Zack Ali has welcomed the new Conservative plan to boost local businesses, create jobs, and strengthen the economy by abolishing high street business rates.

Under the plan, 321 local shops, pubs, and restaurants in Crawley will save thousands of pounds on their tax bill, with the average pub saving £9,600.

This major tax cut will support all small and medium-sized retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses, benefiting not just high streets but also vital rural enterprises like farm shops.

This pro-business plan is a stark contrast to Labour's record of hitting high streets with crippling tax hikes, including doubling business rates and introducing their National Insurance Jobs Tax.

The Conservatives have also pledged to repeal the Employment Rights Bill, which will force small business owners to follow the whims of trade unions and cost businesses £154 per worker.

Commenting, Cllr Zack Ali said: “Labour have hammered our high street in Crawley with more tax rises, higher energy bills and reels of red tape.

“That is why I welcome the Conservatives plan to save local shops thousands of pounds a year by abolishing business rates, helping 321 local businesses and creating a stronger economy.

“This plan will help shops to focus on growing, creating local jobs and keeping prices down, putting more money in pockets to spend on what matters.”

Sir Mel Stride MP, Shadow Chancellor, said: “Our high streets and town centres have been battered by Labour. The increases in the Jobs Tax and energy bills have hit them hard, and pubs and shops have seen their business rates bills more than double. We want to see high streets thriving again. Pubs are vital centres of community life, but they are closing on a huge scale.

“We will take decisive action to save small businesses and revive our high streets, lifting a quarter of a million shops and pubs out of business rates altogether.”

“Rachel Reeves claims to care, but her actions speak louder than words, and businesses have been left reeling as the Chancellor cut the rates relief put in place by the Conservatives, and plans to abolish it altogether next year.”