High Street shops, pharmacies, and music venues are urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to extend any planned relief from impending business rate increases beyond just pubs. The call comes as the government is expected to announce a backtrack on the increases to business rates bills faced by pubs in England in the coming days, following fierce criticism from landlords and pub owners, with over 1,000 pubs banning Labour MPs from their premises.

Other lobby groups and backbench MPs have joined the call, arguing that many other businesses will struggle to pay the higher bills. The Chancellor scaled back business rate discounts, which had been in force since the pandemic, from 75% to 40% in her November Budget.

Anna Turley, chair of the Labour Party, stated on the BBC Today programme that the government would remain open to discussions with businesses. "Where businesses are telling us they are struggling and they need more support it is absolutely right that the chancellor talks to them, engages with the sector and looks at what we can do to assist them," she said.

The original discounts were introduced to help businesses cope with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The reduction from 75% to 40% represents a significant increase in costs for many businesses, potentially impacting their profitability and ability to invest in growth. The specific financial impact will vary depending on the rateable value of each property and the location of the business.

The potential backtrack on pub rates highlights the government's sensitivity to pressure from specific sectors. However, it also raises questions about fairness and the potential for other industries to lobby for similar treatment. The current status is that the government is expected to make an announcement in the coming days, and the scope of any relief package remains to be seen. The next developments will likely involve further lobbying from various business groups and scrutiny of the government's decision-making process.