As news hits that the High Street in 2018 is suffering, the Mail and the Mirror are each calling for a root and branch review of business rates, as they launch campaigns to ‘save Britain’s high streets.’
Chief executives of some of the country’s biggest retail chains, along with politicians from all parties, have warned that high business rates are stifling investment and driving long-established companies to the wall. One of the key issues raised is the advantage enjoyed by online retailers, who are able to undercut traditional shops. It comes as new research by the Press Association shows about 50,000 UK jobs have been axed or put at risk this year, with the high street bearing the brunt of the losses. Most of the jobs have been lost in the retail sector, with the likes of Toys R Us, Poundworld and Maplin collapsing into administration and others, including House of Fraser, planning to close dozens of stores in order to survive. The Mail also calls on councils to slash city centre parking charges to encourage shoppers.
The Times, Page: 4 Daily Mail, Pages: 2, 10, 11, 18 The Daily Telegraph, Business, Page: 8 The Independent, Page: 11 Daily Mirror, Pages: 1, 8, 9 The Sun, Page: 16 i, Page: 38