Stuart Anderson MP has said Labour’s plan to protect pubs from being converted into housing or offices will have little effect while tax hikes and cost pressures continue to force two pubs to close every day.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
“In rural communities like South Shropshire, pubs play an integral role in bringing people together. They are where we meet, mark life’s milestones, and where many young people get their first job. Labour’s plan to stop pubs from being converted into housing or offices will have little effect while Labour’s jobs tax, higher wages bill, and soaring business rates are forcing pubs to close. The British Beer and Pub Association recorded 161 pub closures in the first three months of 2026 alone. That is two every day and 2,400 jobs lost. The total number of pubs in England and Wales has now fallen below 39,000, the biggest drop since the pandemic. In South Shropshire, the impact is clear. The claimant count now stands at more than 1,200 people including hundreds of young people who are desperate to start a career. That is why Labour needs to support our pubs, not just put a padlock on the door after they have already gone.”
Since his election, Stuart has been supporting pubs that play an integral role in bringing people together in rural communities like South Shropshire. In July, he launched a friendly ‘Best Pub in South Shropshire’ to celebrate the very best of our pubs and crown a worthy winner. He has also been pressing the government to do much to support the industry. Most recently, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner MP has announced updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which mean pubs can only be redeveloped if they have been on the market for at least a year and there is no reasonable prospect of them returning to trade. However, Stuart has said that the announcement does nothing to address the soaring costs that Labour has already imposed on the hospitality sector.
Since Labour came to office, employer’s National Insurance has risen from 13.8% to 15%. April’s increase to the minimum wage has cost the hospitality sector £1.4 billion. Pubs have also been hit by higher business rates and rising food inflation. Now, data from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has shown 161 pubs closed in the first quarter of 2026. That is up 26% on the same period last year and equivalent to two closures every day. This has led to 2,400 hospitality jobs being lost in just three months. The number of pubs in England and Wales has fallen below 39,000. This is the sharpest annual drop recorded since the pandemic. BBPA has also reported that the average net profit per pint is now just 2%.
Stuart added the impact is being felt locally. In South Shropshire, 1,210 people were claiming unemployment-related benefits in July 2026. That is up 60 on the year before. Of those, 235 were aged 18 to 24, an increase of 45. With 60% of first jobs in hospitality, Stuart has said that these pub closures are directly affecting opportunities for young people in rural communities. On 18th August 2026, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that vacancies in the UK jobs market have fallen to their lowest level since 2014 other than during COVID, with 6,000 fewer openings between May and July compared to the three months to April. It said this is because small companies are holding back from recruiting owing to higher labour costs and other operating expenses. It also comes as Labour reveal plans to restrict zero hours contracts, which could impose costs of up to £3 billion a year. The government’s own analysis has found that sectors like hospitality and retail would be worst hit. Over 100,000 jobs have already been lost in hospitality under Labour. The Conservatives would abolish Business Rates for 250,000 retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses.
