Government urged to ‘stop tinkering around the edges’ and tackle dwindling business rates

‘Westminster must put its money where its mouth is to make global Britain a reality,’ BCC boss says

The government is being urged to sweep away barriers to business growth and investment and take “bold steps” to help firms thrive.

Dr Adam Marshall, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), will call for a cut in business rates, action on infrastructure projects, as well as support for firms affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

He will tell the BCC’s annual conference in London on Thursday that the government must put measures in place to help businesses whose cash flow and supply chains could be disrupted when the transition period for leaving the EU comes to an end on 31 December.

He will say: “It must stop tinkering around the edges and finally tackle the drag anchor of business rates, which undermine investment and risk-taking and suffocate our high streets.

“It must put its money where its mouth is to support and promote UK trade, to give a leg up to the many thousands of companies whose overseas efforts will make global Britain a reality.

“It must create deeper incentives to encourage businesses of all sizes to move further, faster on carbon reduction and energy efficiency, and it must move infrastructure projects forward, faster, including everything from fixing local roads to expanding our global hub airport at Heathrow.”

Dr Marshall will say that over the next few years, moving goods across borders and hiring staff, as well as complying with additional rules on tax, data and standards, is going to cost businesses more.

He will add: “What businesses want to see now is Westminster focusing in on the details that matter, so that companies can move goods, people and data across borders successfully after 1 January.”

PA