Stephen Morgan MP has thrown his support behind Labour’s new independent Commission ‘Rebuilding Our High Streets’, launched by the Shadow Chancellor today. The commission will seek to bring together experts from businesses in retail, leisure and hospitality, as well as representatives of the trade union, local government cooperative and social enterprise sectors.
The announcement comes as new figures reveal that over the last decade high streets across the UK have lost:
- 9,775 shops
- 5,785 pubs
- 7,400 bank branches
- 1,195 libraries
Meanwhile, the South East has lost 1080 shops, 945 pubs and 120 libraries over the same period.
The Commission will meet regularly over the course of the next six months to offer independent advice to the Party on issues such as:
- How the high streets of the 2020s and beyond can be supported to thrive, as great places where people can shop, socialise, meet, work and live.
- Bringing empty commercial properties back into use for existing and new businesses.
- Levelling the playing field between bricks and mortar businesses and online firms.
- Promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in our high streets, reflecting the needs of local communities.
The UK’s high streets have been hit by unprecedented challenges throughout the pandemic and face more threats in the coming year. These include government changes to planning rules in August, which will allow shops to be converted into low quality flats over the heads of local communities, and the staged return of business rates, with firms liable to pay full rates again in April next year.
The Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, said,
“This year has brought unprecedented challenges to businesses and organisations across the country that depend on the local high street, none more so than here in Portsmouth.
“Labour is determined to deliver a brighter future for our high streets as part of our mission to make Britain the best place to grow up and grow old in, which is why I’m proud to support the Rebuilding Our High Streets Commission.
“Our vision is not one harking back to one of the past, but finding ways to make our town centres places we can be proud of and where communities can come together. This Commission will offer independent advice to Labour on how we achieve that.”
Mr Morgan has had regular meetings with local businesses and organisations linked to Portsmouth’s high streets throughout the pandemic, working on their behalf to get the support they need.
