Rachel Reeves has defended the Government’s U-turn chaos as she announced major “tweaks” to flagship policies announced in the Budget.
Today, the Chancellor confirmed pubs and music venues in England will be given a 15 per cent cut on their business rates bills from April, with no further hikes for an additional two years.
It comes after a major backlash against last year’s Autumn Statement, which led to more than a thousand pubs banning Labour MPs from their premises.
Speaking at a pub in south London, Ms Reeves said: “I think it is important to tweak policies to make sure that the right support is going to the right businesses. And I’m not going to apologise for making sure that we are getting the support to those that need it.”
But Mel Stride, the Shadow Chancellor, dismissed the announcement, describing it as a “sticking plaster”.
Meanwhile, other hospitality businesses, including restaurants, cafes and hotels, will miss out on the Treasury’s rescue package.
The first 18 months of Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership have seen more than a dozen U-turns, including over winter fuel allowance, welfare cuts and inheritance tax on family farms.
