Business rates to be cut by 20% for pubs, clubs and music venues across England

The discount will apply to nearly 32,000 hospitality businesses and is expected to save a typical pub some £1,100 annually, but will not be available to the very largest live music venues.The overhaul of business rates will be funded through a review of reliefs for businesses that “do not make a positive contribution to local communities” such as vape shops and a crackdown on online marketplaces that do not comply with tax obligations, No 10 said.Prime Minister Andy Burnham had previously pledged to raise taxes on out-of-town warehouses for online giants such as Amazon to help pay for cuts to rates for hospitality firms.Mr Burnham said: “I said I would protect pubs and local high streets – the beating heart of our communities – and that’s what we will do.”Meanwhile, Gary Lineker is among 120 UK-based millionaires calling on Mr Burnham to impose higher taxes on their wealth in an open letter.The “Proud to Pay” letter to the Prime Minister, organised by the Patriotic Millionaires UK campaign group, claims the money raised from higher taxes on wealth could be used to reduce inequality, support public infrastructure, and back small businesses.It reads: “We want you to tax us. We can afford it.”Follow the latest updates below...'We are determine to bring back hope', says Chancellor John HealeyNewly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey has said the cut to business rates will “bring back hope” to businesses across the hospitality industry.He said: “Pubs, clubs and live music venues are at the heart of communities across the UK.” “We are determined to bring hope back, give businesses the support they need and generate growth in every postcode.”Chancellor John HealeyAFP/GettyBurnham to slash business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues by 20%Business rates will be slashed by 20% for pubs, clubs, and live music venues across England from April next year, Downing Street has announced. The discount is expected to save a typical pub as much as £1,100 annually and will apply to nearly 32,000 hospitality businesses. Mr Burnham said: “This government will back the businesses that people want to see in their communities.“I said I would protect pubs and local high streets – the beating heart of our communities – and that’s what we will do. What we’re announcing today is just the start as we work to bring back hope across the country.”This comes on top of the 15% relief announced by Sir Keir’s government in January.The Government will also look to set out reforms across the wider business rates system, including small business rates relief. Andy Burnham buys a pint of Guinness during a campaign event in June this yearGettyGood morningWe’ll be resuming our coverage of Andy Burnham’s first days in No10. Join us as we bring you the latest updates. Local Government Association says bus fare cap will 'help ease the cost of living' for UK householdsResponding to the Government’s announcement that bus fares are to be capped at £2 for single journeys, Cllr Liam Robinson, Chair of the LGA’s Inclusive Growth Committee, said: “This is a positive measure that will help ease the cost of living and mean people can travel more affordably in their area. “Alongside the new devolved powers over buses, Government must continue to work with councils and transport authorities to develop a longer-term funding model to put local bus networks on a sustainable financial footing.”What bus schemes are running in London this summer?Londoners can take advantage of a range of money-saving schemes across the bus network this summer, as the capital looks to make public transport more accessible.Here’s a list of some of the schemes you could benefit from:Weekend Hopper fare - From this weekend until August, passengers can make unlimited bus and tram journeys across London on Saturdays and Sundays for the price of a single fare. The scheme runs from 25 July to 31 August, making it easier to hop between parks, markets, museums and summer events without worrying about extra travel costs.Free bus travel for children - Families can save a little extra this summer as children aged 5 to 15 can travel for free on participating local bus services across England from August 1 to August 31. London already offers free and discounted travel for many young passengers, but the summer scheme provides an extra boost for family days out.TfL's Weekend Hopper scheme launches this weekendTfLAndrew Harper's widow says it is 'deplorable' that his killers are being considered for early releaseThe widow of police officer Andrew Harper has said it is “deplorable” that two of his killers are being considered for early release.Lissie Harper said that politicians are “making decisions from behind a desk that will have real and lasting consequences” for the families of victims.It comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he will review the early release scheme policy.Pc Harper was 28 years old when he sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019.The driver of the vehicle which caused Pc Harper’s death, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence, and will not be eligible for the scheme.But the Constable’s mother said she had been told that early release could be on the cards for Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car and handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020.Lissie Harper said in a statement: “It has taken me years to rebuild a life that was torn apart in a matter of moments. Years to pick up the pieces left behind by three men whose actions robbed Andrew of his life and stole our future.“Now – once again – politicians are making decisions from behind a desk that will have real and lasting consequences for victims’ families like mine.“It is deplorable to me that we have reached a point where releasing prisoners early is even considered acceptable. We speak of justice, accountability and standing with victims, yet decisions like this do the opposite.“They tell victims their suffering matters less, and offenders that the punishment handed down by our courts is no longer what they will actually serve.”Andrew and Lissie HarperPACharity welcomes new bus far cap but warns initiative 'throws global south countries under the bus'A charity has welcomed the new bus fare cap as a measure to help Londoners with the rising cost of travel. But concerns have been raised over how the policy will be funded.As mentioned previously, part of the funding for the scheme will come from redirecting £400 million that had previously been allocated to help developing countries tackle the impacts of climate change. This decision has raised concerns among international aid organisations.ActionAid UK's Joanne O'Neill says the PM's scheme is a "welcome initiative but his funding proposal throws global south countries under the bus, penalising those most impacted by a climate crisis they did not create".O'Neill goes on to call on the government to "commit to delivering international climate finance through grants, not loans, with funds raised through progressive taxes on polluting companies, and the banks which finance them".What has Andy Burnham said about increasing the £12,570 personal allowance?On the eve of becoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham raised the possibility of an increase in the £12,570 personal allowance on income tax.Shortly after taking over in No10, he doubled down on the idea, saying it would be considered in the Budget, expected in the autumn.He was then accused of his first U-turn in Government after it was briefed that any changes on income tax would not be part of the initial moves to ease the cost of living, such as the £2 cap on bus fares outside of London.The new Prime Minister later insisted that the personal allowance level would be looked at for the Budget.So what exactly has Mr Burnham said on income tax? You can read the full story here: Swinney: Burnham exacerbating mistrust in politics with Sarwar appointmentThe expected appointment of Anas Sarwar as a UK minister will “exacerbate” mistrust in politics, Scotland’s First Minister has said.Prime Minister Andy Burnham has admitted politicians have “not been good enough” in recent years as he seeks to improve public trust in the country’s leaders.But responding to the expected appointment of the Scottish Labour leader to the House of Lords and a minister in the expanded Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, First Minister John Swinney said the move goes against the Prime Minister’s goal.First Minister John Swinney PASpeaking to the Press Association on Wednesday, the First Minister hit out at the “hypocrisy” of the situation, with Mr Sarwar having previously ruled out a move to the Lords.“I think what it demonstrates is an appalling level of judgement by Anas Sarwar,” he said.“He said before the (Holyrood) election he had absolutely no interest in going to the House of Lords, he only wanted to be first minister of Scotland.“Then, after the election, Anas Sarwar has accepted a place in the House of Lords – a body, by the way, he wants to abolish.“That is an incredible level of hypocrisy and it just illustrates what I think the Prime Minister is trying to address, which is the fact that politicians say one thing one minute and then do another thing the next minute, when it suits them.“That, I thought, was what Andy Burnham was trying to address and to solve.“But instead, Andy Burnham has exacerbated that sentiment within our society.”Greens call for more services after bus care cap pledgeThe Green Party said lower fares are no use “if buses aren’t there” as they called for more services.A Green Party spokesman said: “On buses we’ve now gone full circle – we are heading back to the £2 cap introduced by the Conservatives and raised to £3 under Keir Starmer.“Temporary cuts to bus fares are welcome but we need a new direction of travel.“We need to permanently offer free travel to all those under 22, and we need to see extensive investment in routes and an increase in services so that taking the bus is a realistic option for many more communities across England.“Lower fares are no use if buses aren’t there in the first place.”