Why This Matters:

Business rates are killing Britain’s high streets.

Right now, businesses that operate in physical premises — shops, cafés, salons, community spaces — are being penalised just for existing in a bricks-and-mortar space. Business rates are calculated using the “rateable value” of a property, which is based on what rent it could achieve, not what it actually earns. The higher the footfall or more desirable the location, the higher the rate — regardless of whether the business is thriving or barely surviving.

Meanwhile, huge online retailers with no shopfronts pay far less by comparison. This is not just outdated — it’s unjust.

The facts:

£33.98 billion was raised in business rates in 2023/24 — but after applying reliefs, the actual total was £25.1 billion
A simple 1% turnover tax on all UK businesses (based on 2023/24 figures) could raise £52.73 billion — more than double the net income from business rates
A tiered turnover tax (between 0.5% and 2%) could generate over £89 billion
That’s enough not just to replace business rates — but to invest in the NHS, disability support, education and infrastructure.

Why we must act now:

Businesses are closing every single day.

Shops, cafés, bakeries, barbers, independent retailers — gone.

This isn’t just about economics. These are the places that hold our communities together. They offer jobs, opportunities, human connection. Many of them do the work of unpaid social workers: looking out for vulnerable people, offering safe spaces, giving support where the state no longer does.

We don’t need more empty high streets.

We need a tax system that reflects the reality of modern business and supports growth — not punishes it.

What we’re calling for:

• Abolish the current business rates system
• Replace it with a fairer turnover-based tax of 0.5% to 2% on all UK businesses
• Use the increased revenue to reinvest in public services and community regeneration

Sign this petition if you believe in fairness, in thriving communities, and in keeping our high streets alive. 

Because this system is broken.

And we deserve better.