Burnham offers 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music in England – UK politics live

The prime minister said the £100m package would mean the typical pub would save around £1,100 in the next financial year

Tina McKenzie, the policy chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, welcomed the proposal, but said it must be a “downpayment” on further action to help small businesses more broadly at the next budget.

She added:

Failure is not an option.

We are encouraged at the signal from the prime minister today, instructing his government to plan for a significant increase in small business rates relief at the heart of the next budget.

MVT warmly welcomes this announcement from the government, and its recognition that grassroots music venues are essential to our local communities.

The 20% additional reduction on Business Rates from April 2027 is an encouraging first step in a range of opportunities available to Andy Burnham’s new team to not just protect and secure live music, but begin to restore its central role at the heart of our towns and cities.

We call on Senedd, Holyrood, and the Northern Ireland Assembly to swiftly confirm they will match this much needed support through Barnett formula consequentials. Venues in Wales, Scotland and England must be confident of a level playing field of economic conditions for touring across the UK.

Live music is an ecosystem, and we strongly urge the government to reconsider the limit to the eligibility criteria so that all live music spaces of all sizes qualify, supporting jobs, local economies and communities to access live music.