Speaking in the House of Commons today (Wednesday 17 December), Badenoch pushed Prime Minister Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions to admit the measures announced in the Autumn Budget had forced many pubs to close their doors for good.
She said: “The Prime Minister gave his word that he would help pubs, yet they face a 15% rise in business rates because of his Budget. Will he be honest and admit his taxes are forcing pubs to close?”
Starmer did not answer the question directly, but said the relief put in place during Covid had always been a temporary measure, adding Labour had introduced £4bn in transitional relief.
Temporary scheme
Responding to Badenoch, the Prime Minister said: “The temporary relief put in place during Covid has come to an end, that was the scheme put in place. We supported it but it was always a temporary scheme.
“We’ve now put in place a £4bn transitional relief. We’ve also taken other measures creating hospitality zones, greater licensing freedoms and tackling late payments.
“We’re also bearing down on the cost of living so more people can enjoy a drink or a meal out, freezing rail fares and prescription charges, £150 off enter bills, driving wages up.”
This follows the national campaign banning Labour MPs from pubs, launched earlier this month by operator James Fowler, in protest of business rates hikes, which the leader of the Tory party also addressed.
Badenoch, who is also MP for north west Essex, said: “What pubs has [the Prime Minister] been speaking to? They’ve been barred from all of them.
Broken promises
“It’s not my fault they have got nowhere to drown their sorrows.”
The leader of the opposition went on to accuse Starmer of not being in control of the Labour party and breaking every promise he had made, pointing to rising unemployment rates and increasing taxes.
She continued: “He said his main mission was economic growth but the economy is shrinking, with a year like that, is it any surprise all his MPs want for Christmas is a new leader.”
The Prime Minister, who is also MP for Holborn and St Pancras, retaliated by stating Labour had “achieved more in 14 months than [the Conservatives] did in 14 years” by bringing half a million people out of poverty.
