Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan has backed a new five point plan to revitalise local high streets and reverse 13 years of decline for beloved local shops, pubs and entertainment facilities.
New analysis shows the UK has lost over 6,000 pubs, nearly 4,000 local shops and 9,000 bank branches from local high streets since 2010 when the Conservatives went into government.
Earlier this year Mr Morgan accused ministers of prioritising investment into areas that suit them politically, rather than those which urgently need support after Portsmouth missed out on Government investment to improve our city centre. His ‘Back the Bid’ campaign showed significant public support for funding for the city centre.
According to official figures released last year, Portsmouth has lost at least 2,000 retail sector related jobs, sitting below the regional and national levels, as it was seven years ago back in 2015.
Labour has this week announced a new plan to reverse 13 years of decline and revitalise local high streets, with policies to cut business rates, cut energy bills, stamp out late payments, revamp empty shops and tackle anti-social behaviour. The proposals set out by Keir Starmer are to:
- Cut business rates: high street businesses shouldn’t face big tax hikes whilst online giants are let off the hook. Labour would cut business rates for small businesses on the high street, paid for by properly taxing online giants. Our policy would be worth over £2.6k to the average pub, café or restaurant.
- Cut energy bills: many beloved high street businesses face an uncertain future due to spiking energy bills. Labour will help them cut their bills for good with vouchers for energy efficiency measures – such as double glazing at a local cinema, a new heat pump in a café or an electric vehicle for a takeaway.
- Stamp out late payments: high street firms shouldn’t be forced to wait months to be paid for work by big clients. Labour would introduce tough new laws to stamp out late payments and make sure more money gets to high street firms.
- Revamp empty shops: people won’t visit high streets blighted by unsightly boarded up shops. Labour will give councils strong new powers to bring empty shops on their high streets back into use.
- Tackle anti-social behaviour: people should feel safe when they go out to shop, eat or have fun on their local high street. Labour will get 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs back on our streets and introduce tough new measures to crack down on anti-social behaviour that blights local high streets.
Commenting on Labour’s plan, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“The failure of investment by Government and the failure of leadership on the council is holding Portsmouth’s economy back, and letting our communities down.
“Meanwhile, a decade of low growth means footfall has plummeted across the country and businesses have struggled to attract customers.
“It is time Ministers reversed 13 years of decline and revitalise local high streets like Portsmouth’s to make them a place to be proud of once again. Labour’s plan would help deliver this”.
Speaking at a visit to a high street in Great Yarmouth, Labour leader Keir Starmer said:
“Britain’s businesses already give so much to our economy, and hold a huge amount of potential and promise just waiting to be unlocked.
“But they’re being held back by 13 years of Tory economic failure. The Tories crashed the economy, and business and working people are still paying the price on higher interest rates.
“With our five point plan, Labour will work in partnership with businesses and local communities to get our high streets thriving again.
“This is just one of the ways we will deliver our mission to secure the highest growth in the G7, so every part of our country can feel better off.”
