- Stuart Anderson MP has stepped up his campaign to secure support for pubs.
- Ministers have hinted at support to ease hikes in business rates.
- Stuart has urged the government to make its about-turn quickly.
Stuart Anderson MP has stepped up his campaign to unlock a package of support for pubs and wider hospitality sector in South Shropshire.
Stuart launched his campaign in December when the government announced inflation-busting increases, which would have led to a 15% rise in average pub business rates in April 2026.
Over the next three years average pubs’ business rates would have increased by 76% (£12,900), reaching £111,300.
Meanwhile average hotels’ rates would have risen by 115% (£65,000), bringing them to £205,200.
Shropshire, which is home to 394 pubs, has seen 170 pubs experience their rates more than doubled, equating to an extra £8,564.
Business rates are calculated by multiplying a property’s rateable value (RV) by the appropriate national non-domestic rating multiplier and then applying any eligible reliefs or transitional arrangements.
At the Autumn Budget on Wednesday 26th November 2025, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a new discount that is only a quarter of the 20p discount that the government had legislated for.
It does not offset the above inflation increases in business rates, and follows last year's decision to slash business rates relief for the hospitality sector from 75% to 40%.
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently suggested a concession after a strong backlash saw hundreds of Labour MPs banned from their local pubs.
This concession is expected to involve smaller increases, which were previously anticipated to more than double for hospitality businesses.
However, it’s unclear if shops restaurants and hotels will be included. Stuart urged the government to reverse its decision quickly during a session in Parliament on 19th January 2025.
In Parliament, Stuart said:
"I am speaking to loads of business owners across South Shropshire in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, who are telling me the polar opposite of what the Minister is saying from the Dispatch Box, showing that the Government are completely detached from reality. There is a U-turn coming on this policy, but many business owners are lying awake at night worrying about how they are going to get through this. Can the Government make that U-turn quickly?"
Stuart’s intervention comes as the sector’s trade body UK Hospitality warns that two thousand pubs could close this year without government support to ease the transition to higher business rates. This includes 540 pubs, 963 restaurants, and 574 hotels.
Under Labour's leadership, over 1,000 pubs and restaurants have already shut down, leading to the loss of 89,000 jobs.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported that hospitality accounts for more than half of all job losses during this period.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) also highlighted the financial strain, stating that pubs would have needed to sell an additional 1.3 billion pints of beer annually to offset the proposed hikes.
In 2024, the UK experienced a daily loss of approximately 37 shops, with 13,500 retail stores permanently closing.
The Original Factory Shop in Bridgnorth has entered administration, resulting in the loss of 2,500 jobs across the country due to "highly adverse government fiscal policies.
Hundreds of thousands of pubs, restaurants, and high street businesses continue to face a toxic combination of increased energy prices, tax hikes, and other factors.
By contrast, savings identified by the Conservatives would have seen business rates abolished for 250,000 businesses in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sector.
This would have delivered substantial savings that could then have been invested in better premises, more staff, and lower prices for customers.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"Businesses in South Shropshire have been badly hit by the government’s revaluation of business rates, and many fear for their future. The Chancellor has acknowledged the struggles our pubs are facing, and now it's time for action. The inflation-busting hikes in business rates are unsustainable, and without relief, many pubs will be forced to close their doors for good. That's why I'm urging the government to turn their words into action and deliver the help our pubs desperately need. The longer they delay, the more pubs we'll lose. We've been fighting for support for months, and it's time for the government to step up and show they truly understand the pressures our pubs are under. We need a fair and sustainable solution that recognises the vital role pubs play as the social hubs that make our communities thrive."
