Give Christmas boost to local shops by cutting their business rates, MP tells Chancellor

Local MP Tim Farron has written to the Chancellor, calling for him to give high streets a boost this Christmas by taxing internet companies to fund cuts to their business rates.

The Government recently announced that 51,000 businesses on UK high streets have closed over the past 12 months.

In a letter to Philip Hammond, Tim said that extortionate business rates were clobbering local firms.

Earlier this year, the Chancellor said he was prepared to look at taxing online businesses to ensure there is a more level playing field for high street retailers.

Tim said: "Despite South Lakeland bucking the trend when it comes to the number of empty shops on our high streets, many local firms tell me that the business rates system is totally unfair.

"It doesn't make any sense that our local hard-working businesses are forced to pay through the nose, while mega online retailers can get away with paying next to no tax at all.

"That's why I'm calling for the Chancellor to make giant online companies pay their fair share, so we can give our shop-keepers a much needed tax break.

"It's a common-sense solution that would give a boost to our small businesses this Christmas."

"This is a very important issue for our local economy, and I'll be raising it in the House of Commons next week."