The Labour government is reportedly planning yet another U-turn.
Keir Starmer’s Labour government is is expected to U-turn on hikes to business rates for pubs (Image: Getty)
Keir Starmer was dealt another humiliating blow as GB News came to a halt for a breaking announcement. Presenters Tom Harwood and Dawn Neesom announced the government is expected to U-turn on hikes to business rates for pubs. They were joined by fellow GB News host Christopher Hope, who revealed Labour MPs are expecting “some form of U-turn” in the coming days.
He continued: “We heard from the Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he told me on Monday they might look at extending opening hours. It sounds like that’s not enough for the rebels and more needs to be done, possibly some further relief or extending that Covid support package. They’re being hit with two issues: the withdrawal of the Covid support package brought in by the Conservative government and the re-evaluation of business rates.”
Pubs have been facing the prospect of much higher business rates after Rachel Reeves announced plans to end Covid-era discounts in her November Budget.
While the Government had introduced a £4.3 billion fund to help pubs manage the transition to higher rates, additional support will now be provided following mounting pressure from the public and backbenchers.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch hit out at the Labour government, branding the move its “first U-turn of 2026”.
Taking to X, she wrote: “Yesterday Keir Starmer told us Labour had ‘turned a corner.’ Well, it looks like they’ve turned the corner straight into their first U-turn of 2026.
“Labour are killing Britain’s pubs. This rumoured U-turn is too little too late. It’s time to back our local pubs.”
Christopher Hope revealed Labour MPs are expecting “some form of U-turn” in the coming days (Image: GB News)
Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said: “Just a month on and the Budget is already falling apart. Labour were wrong to attack pubs and now have been forced into another screeching u-turn as Kemi called for just this morning.
“But this humiliating about-face does nothing for shops, restaurants, hotels and markets which all face a more than 50 per cent increase. This is not the stability Rachel Reeves promised – it is a recipe for economic disaster.
He added: “Only the Conservatives have a strong leader with a clear plan to stand up for business by cutting business rates for thousands of local high-street firms.”
