Abolishing business rates will save the High Street, Jo Swinson says

Abolishing business rates will “rescue the High Street”, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has said.

Speaking at the CBI conference in London, Ms Swinson outlined her party’s plans to ditch the tax, which many businesses say gives online companies an unfair advantage.

The Daily Mirror has been highlighting the plight of town centres and calling for action as part of our High Street Fightback campaign

Ms Swinson pushed Lib Dem plans to replace business rates with a commercial landowner levy as “bold and innovative”.

She said: “The Liberal Democrats are committed to supporting small businesses who are the engine of our economy.

“That’s why the Liberal Democrats would scarp business rates and replace them with a commercial landowner levy.

“It will shift the burden from the tenant to the landlord so that we can breathe new life into our high streets.”

Ms Swinson insisted the measure would “rescue” the High Street.

What must be done:

1. Ensure online retailers pay fair business rates.
2. New tax on online sales, with money going to the wider sector.
3. Online firms to collect the right VAT from overseas sellers.
4. New fund to revive town centres.
5. More rate relief for firms that fill town centre shops empty for a year.
6. Easier planning laws to convert shops for offices, leisure or housing.
7. Help councils crack down on landlords with run-down properties.
8. Give councils more compulsory purchase powers for neglected sites.
9. Better public transport into towns.
10. End rip-off parking charges.

“This is an innovative and bold policy that is needed.

“Let’s remember what the issues are that we’re trying to solve here – businesses on the high street have been struggling for many years now and they find the business rates can be a crippling cost and this is at a time when they’re already having to deal with footfall falling, competition from online competitors where they aren’t having to pay the same type of rates.

“So, I think this is an important change, and clearly it being borne by landlords – some of that may well be passed on but we also recognise it will not all be – and this will provide a significant boost for businesses.”

Ms Swinson also told bosses at the conference that remaining in the EU would deliver a £50 billion boon to the UK economy.

She said: ” Boris Johnson talked of a Brexit boom this morning, but we know it is much more likely to be a Brexit bust.

“We believe that being part of one of the most successful economic blocs in the world is the best guarantee we can have for our future.

“For the success of our businesses and for our country, we believe that our best future is as members of the European Union.

“That’s why a Liberal Democrat government will stop Brexit on day one,” she said to applause from delegates.