The Labour Party has released its manifesto in the run-up to the July 4 general election pledging an overhaul of the business rates system, a levelling up of the minimum wage, plus an increase police numbers. 

Included is several pledges that will directly affect retailers. On tax, the party has said it will not increase taxes on working people, nor increase National Insurance. However, the same minimum wage would be offered to all adults, removing current age bands. 

Business rates will also see an overhaul with a promise to replace the current system in England. “This will level the playing field between the high street and online giants, better incentivise investment, tackle empty properties and support entrepreneurship,” it reads. 

Also on the high street, Labour will look for ways to strengthen the Post Office Network, support new products, services and business models such as banking hubs to “reinvigorate the hight street”.

Tory manifesto vows more police and vape restrictions, plus continued rates relief schemes

A specific offence for assaults on shop workers has also been proposed, already in place in Scotland, alongside a promise of thousands of new police officers and PCSOs to patrol town centres. 

The party also say they will ban vapes that advertise and appeal to children and ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s. 

Commenting on key points, One Stop retailer Vip Panchmatia said that while an overhaul of business rates is welcome, alongside measures on crime, his concern is how it will be paid for. 

“There’s a lot of emphasis on growth, but what happens if that doesn’t happen? No one is talking about the effect Brexit has had, and taxes will have to rise to pay for all of this.” 

Meanwhile, Sunder Sander, of One Stop Leamington Spa said: “The devil is in the detail. On minimum wage rise many retailers will not want to pay an inexperienced worker the same as someone who is over-21. It’s difficult, but we’ve faced rising overheads making everything tighter.” 

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