Sam Bennett, Lib Dem Senedd Canddiate for Swansea and Gower slams “half-pint” measures to save hospitality across Swansea and Gower

Cllr Sam Bennett has criticised the Government’s “half-pint” measures to support the hospitality sector, and said that “great swathes” of the industry are still being ignored.

This week, the Treasury announced plans to support pubs and music venues by giving them a 15% discount on their business rates from April.

However, Sam argues that the problem has still not been solved for many other businesses, with shops, cafes, restaurants, soft play centres and other types of high street businesses not receiving the support they “desperately need”.

Cllr Sam Bennett, Liberal Democrat Lead candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe, said:

“From the Chancellor’s punishing jobs tax to this timid business rates relief package, the Labour Government’s half-pint measures are unsurprisingly not solving our high streets’ crisis.

“I’m seeing community businesses in my constituency being continually neglected and desperately need support. Ministers should apologise to them for all the uncertainty they have caused.

“Great swathes of the hospitality sector are still being ignored. The Government must do the right thing and press ahead with the full 20p discount it promised to every retail, hospitality and leisure business, and back our plan for an emergency VAT cut for hospitality until April 2027 to save our high streets.”