Helen Morgan calls on Chancellor to save small business and high streets by fixing broken rates system

North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan has written to the Chancellor to call for an overhaul of the broken business rates system and extend rates relief to ‘back local businesses’ and fill empty shops on high streets.

In the letter, signed by dozens of MPs, Helen backed calls to overhaul the system which they said is ‘unfair on companies, bad for our local communities, and damaging for our national economy’

The MP added that due to the ‘outdated’ business rates system, empty shops are becoming more prevalent in market towns across North Shropshire. After a visit to Oswestry with the local Business Improvement District last year, Helen called on the last Government to reform the rates system and raised concerns about the state of the High Street.

Liberal Democrat MPs are arguing that business rates should be abolished altogether, and replaced with a new and fairer system by April 2026 – which would make this the last budget to include business rates at all.

The proposed change would come in the form of a ‘Commercial Landowner Levy’ and be based purely on the value of the land where the business is located, with annual revaluations. This would lead to lower rates on many struggling High Streets and help fill empty shops.

As an interim support measure, Helen also called on the Chancellor to keep in place the existing 75% relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, said: “Local businesses across North Shropshire make a huge community contribution, and we are lucky to have them keeping our market towns and villages vibrant. We need to back business and create a friendly environment to operate so that we can continue to provide us with their fantastic goods and services.

“It is outrageous that under the last Government, businesses on high streets in market towns like ours saw their rates go up, whilst out of town warehouses owned by multinational companies saw their rates reduced. This is despite repeated promises to reform the system and make it fairer for entrepreneurs and high street businesses.
“The Labour Government needs to prove it is pro-business, and can’t afford to miss a vital opportunity to reform the broken rates system and allow them to thrive.”