Scrap Business Rates for Small Shops and Cafes - It's Killing Our High Streets!

We need to get rid of business rates for independent shops and cafes entirely. This is crippling small businesses, especially in my industry. I've seen so many good places close down because the rates are just unsustainable, even when they’re doing okay.

The current system is archaic and doesn't reflect the reality of running a small business today. We pay rates on our turnover, not our profits, and that’s madness. With rising rents and energy costs, these rates are the final nail in the coffin for many. My own three coffee shops in Birmingham feel this squeeze every single month.

Instead of business rates, we should shift the burden to a property value tax collected by local councils, but only on larger commercial properties or those left vacant.