Labour

High streets should be at the heart of our local communities

Hilary Benn MP, Labour’s Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, Chuka Umunna MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, and Harriet Harman MP, Labour’s Shadow Culture Media and Sport Secretary, met Mary Portas, who is leading the Government review on high streets and town centres today.
 
Hilary Benn, Labour’s Shadow Communities Secretary, said:

"We heard direct from Mary Portas about how she is approaching her review, bringing all of her experience to bear.

"The big task for the review is to persuade the Government to change its austerity programme which is hurting every part of the economy, including our high streets. They should be at the heart of our local communities, but David Cameron and George Osborne are so out of touch that they do not understand the damage their policies are doing.

"That’s why we need a retail diversity plan, a competition test to help consumers and ideas to help make the best use of empty shops. And we all know that good places to live, work and shop require careful planning, with local authorities working with local people and the business community.

"Why the Government is proposing to make it easier to move offices out of town – potentially leaving even more empty properties in our town centres - shows how out of touch they are. People working in town centre offices are also shoppers supporting town centre shops."
 
Chuka Umunna MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, said:

“High streets are vital to the economic and social health of Britain.

"The Tory-led Government’s austerity plan caused the economy to flatline long before the Eurozone crisis - instead what it should be doing is giving confidence to businesses which bring life to our high streets and town centres.

"The Government should boost high streets in the short term by backing our five point plan for growth and jobs which includes a temporary cut in VAT to help local shops, and in the long term by giving sustained backing and support by, for example, introducing a competition test to ensure a level playing field between local independents and the big stores.

"Healthy high streets are part of the fabric of Britain - they give us more choice, they are a cornerstone of our communities and we believe we must do all we can to support them."

Harriet Harman MP, Labour’s Shadow Culture, Media and Sports Secretary, said:

“We must ensure high streets in low income areas – like in my constituency of Peckham - don’t become blighted by too many betting shops.

"The B2 gaming machines in these betting shops are turning them into mini casinos on our high streets. This is not about stopping people from enjoying the pleasure of placing a bet but giving local people the right to decide what they want to see on their high streets. The Government must act to give local people and local councils a say."