EDM: Support for pubs · GB Politics

Support for pubs

Tabled by Mr Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat) 20 signatures

The motion

That this House recognises the role pubs play as vital community anchors across the United Kingdom, providing local employment, supporting charities, and helping to combat social isolation; notes with deep concern that one pub permanently closed every day across England and Wales in 2025; acknowledges the unsustainable pressures facing the hospitality sector from rising National Insurance contributions, energy prices, alcohol duty and business rates; further notes that this coincides with the reduction of retail, hospitality and leisure relief from 75% to 40% and the abolition of the relief cap, which risks smaller independent businesses subsidising large corporate chains; calls on the Government to bring forward long-overdue reform that delivers a fairer and more transparent valuation system; and urges Ministers to support the sector by exempting hospitality SMEs from the Employer National Insurance Contributions increase, consult on a lower NIC band, £5,000-£9,100, to back part-time staff, and combine this with immediate relief through an emergency 5% reduction in VAT for pubs, restaurants, entertainment and accommodation venues until April 2027, helping to protect these beloved local institutions for future generations.

Signatories (20)