Local retailer says the government has put 'two fingers up to the high street'

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Paul Turner-Mitchell

The government has put “two fingers up to the high street” with today’s Budget announcement, retailers have said.

Retailers were largely left out in the cold by today’s series of measures, with any tackling of business rates a notable absence. While other industries such as construction were given specific fillips, the high street was ignored.

Paul Turner-Mitchell, owner of 25Ten Boutique, described it as “a big smack in the face for retail”.

He added: “It shows where the government’s priorities lie with high street and retail. So far they have put around £20m into projects like the Portas Pilot, but in the last two budgets the chancellor has raided the high street for £500m.

“We weren’t expecting much but it’s clear now that the government has no intention of doing anything on business rates until they have met their deficit reduction plan – it’s two fingers up to the high street until then.”

MP Simon Danczuk agreed: “Sadly, this is a slap in the face for Mary Portas and it undermines her efforts to revive our high streets,” he said. “No matter how hard she works, unless she’s backed by serious government policy to support retailers then I fear she’ll be fighting a losing battle.”

Mainstream womenswear retailer Hobbs also complained about the government’s failure to address business rates, claiming that the current system of basing it on one month’s retail price index (RPI) figure was “harmful to growth”.