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# MP raises “urgent concerns” with Chancellor about support needed for hospitality sector
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/mp-raises-urgent-concerns-with-chancellor-about-support-needed-for-hospitality-sector/
- Published: 2026-01-16T09:51:26.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-16T09:51:26.000Z
- Description: A local MP has written to the Chancellor to raise “urgent concerns” about support for the hospitality secotr.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Business, Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:11, News

A LOCAL MP has written to the Chancellor to raise “urgent concerns” about support for the hospitality secotr.

It comes after Sarah Edwards hosted her latest roundtable event for local organisations in the sector.

In her letter to Rachel Reeves, the Labour MP said pubs, microbreweries, restaurants, cafes and leisure organisations had all shared their views that short-term relief was “essential”.

She said:

> “All attendees called for immediate and targeted intervention to stabilise the industry.  
>  
> “This included meaningful movement on the business rates multiplier, with a a discount at the maximum level permitted alongside time-limited, sector-specific relief to mitigate the sharpest increases.  
>  
> “However, businesses caution that narrowly defined relief risks excluding large parts of the hospitality and leisure sector. They also stressed that any short-term measures must be stress-tested with trade bodies and designed as a bridge towards longer-term reform rather than a temporary solution.”

The MP added that the wider picture of rising costs in the sector also needed to be considered.

> “Business rates pressures are being compounded by wider cost increases. Rising energy bills were cited as a major and ongoing challenge alongside increases in beer duty, National Insurance and the National Living Wage.  
>  
> “Several businesses reported implementing hiring freezes or reducing staff numbers, with one shrinking the workforce from 16 to six employees as a result of rising employment costs.”

Ms Edwards urged the Chancellor to deliver “immediate relief and long-term reform”.

She added:

> “In the manifesto on which we won a mandate for change, we committed to levelling the playing field between online giants and our high street. The current approach to business rates does not meet that commitment.  
>  
> “While the rumours of some relief have been welcomed, there is an urgency needed now in order to safeguard our communities, high streets, businesses and local jobs across the sector.”