News / General Election / Political campaigning

Two major hospitality priorities delivered in Labour manifesto

Throughout the General Election campaign, each political party will launch a manifesto listing its policy commitments. Today [Thursday 11 June], the Labour Party launched its manifesto.

Commitments by Labour to replace business rates and reform the Apprenticeship Levy deliver on two longstanding asks of UKHospitality

What was included?

Of relevance to hospitality, commitments included:

1
In England, Labour has committed to replacing the business rates system. It says it will introduce a new system that will level the playing field between the high street and online giants.
2
It has promised to reform the Apprenticeship Levy by creating a Growth and Skills Levy.

Read our analysis of all the party manifestos, in our election hub.

General Election Manifestos explained

Our response

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: “The commitments from the Labour Party are testament to 18 months of hard work by UKHospitality engaging with Labour on the sector’s priorities and shaping its policies.

“It’s clear they have listened and acted on our recommendations, which will enable hospitality to continue to create places where people want to live, work and invest.

“We are delighted to see a commitment to replace the broken business rates system and reduce the burden on high street businesses.

“Hospitality pays three times its fair share of rates, as a proportion of its turnover, and lowering the burden can easily be delivered within the first 100 days of an incoming government through the introduction of a permanently lower rate for hospitality and other high street businesses.

“Reform of the Apprenticeship Levy would be transformational for our investment in skills and help us attract more people into the rewarding roles we have to offer.

“Reform of the levy would, crucially, free up funds to enable the rollout of our successful skills pilot to help people out of work into jobs in hospitality.

“As Sir Keir Starmer said in his message to our conference today, UKHospitality has led engagement with Angela Rayner’s team on its plans for workers. As a sector that provides jobs and opportunities for everyone across the country, we look forward to continuing that relationship.”