Countryside Alliance backs Government's review of Business Rates

The Countryside Alliance welcomes the announcement today in the Queen's Speech to support small businesses by cutting business rates from April 2020 and the commitment to conduct a fundamental review of business rates.

The proposal to increase business rate relief from 33 per cent to 50 per cent will benefit half a million independent shops, restaurants, and pubs. This support is long overdue as we have seen many small businesses across the country hit with unsustainable business rate rises which threatens rural livelihoods. The Government must also publish a timetable of when they will conduct their fundamental review and how it will be undertaken. The Countryside Alliance has been calling for this review for many years.

Head of Policy at the Countryside Alliance, Sarah Lee, said: "Businesses in rural areas play an important part in the economy and we must have a system which enables rural businesses to compete fairly with web-based businesses. The Countryside Alliance has long believed that we need a fairer business rate system which supports rural businesses such as post offices, riding stables and other businesses which cannot be replicated online and which make our rural economy tick."

We need a level playing field for businesses and an overhaul of this unfair tax is required if we want a vibrant offline economy. The Government now has an opportunity to ensure that our local high streets can survive and thrive before it is too late with this welcome review into business rates."