The Labour Government has announced that they are coming for our pubs, our high streets and our schools.
Through misguided ideology, this Government is waging a war against the bedrock of our town centres, cutting the support for independent retailers and hospitality venues across the country. The Non-Domestic Ratings Bill that we debated tonight will be devastating for our town centres that are only now beginning to surge after the pandemic.
The Conservatives left office with investment in our schools at a record level and this Government is now looking to undermine that progress. By punishing independent schools, the Government will push thousands of students, including those with special needs, into the state sector without providing the support it needs. This Bill was the Government’s chance to outline its plans to support the transition to the state sector, yet all it did was confirm that schools will not be given more support.
Closing for the Opposition, I was able to introduce our reasoned amendment. This amendment, which the Government rejected, would have saved local retailers and protected our progress on education.
As I set out in my closing remarks, the Government is choosing to punish local business, punish our pubs and punish our education sector.
You can watch my remarks here.
