Newscast Labour Gets A Round Of Pub Support In
10 snips
Jan 27, 2026 
Laura Bicker, BBC China correspondent in Beijing, provides context on the PM’s China visit and recent shifts in the country’s military leadership. Joe Pike, BBC political correspondent, unpacks local by-election dynamics and leasehold reform impacts. Simon Jack, BBC Business Editor, explains the Treasury’s targeted support for pubs and the business rates reversal. Short, punchy conversations on politics, trade ties and pub relief.
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How Business Rates Created A Perfect Storm
- Business rates are like council tax for firms and depend on a multiplier applied to a property's rateable value.
- A simultaneous rise in rateable values plus removal of COVID discounts created a 'perfect storm' of higher bills.
Short-Term Relief For Pubs
- The government applied a 15% discount to pubs' April rates bill and froze it for two years to ease the immediate shock.
- Expect further review of valuation methodology after the three-year period ends.
Pubs Got Special Treatment — Others Were Excluded
- The pub package covers only pubs in England and uses the Barnett formula to proportionally affect devolved nations.
- Other hospitality sectors like restaurants and hotels feel left out and may lobby for similar treatment.
