Boris Johnson vows to invest in 'left behind' communities if Tories win election
2 min read
Boris Johnson has vowed to slash business rates to boost “left behind” communities if the Conservatives win the December election.
The Prime Minister said the “average corner shop” could see a £1,400 reduction in their bills as he revealed plans to extend retail discounts to cinemas, small music venues and pubs.
He said small High Street businesses could benefit from an increase in rate relief from next year if he is returned to Downing Street.
Mr Johnson said the next Conservative government would also make it easier for communities to buy their local pubs and Post Offices through a £150m regeneration fund.
Some £500m would also be made available to re-connect towns and villages to the rail network for the first time since the 1960s, with a further £350m to boost cycling infrastructure.
“For too long, too many towns and villages across Britain have been overlooked and left behind,” Mr Johnson said.
“When the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, many communities felt their voices had been heard for the first time in decades and their lives would improve.
“We will invest in these communities and help people put the heart back into the places they call home.
“We need to get Brexit done so that we can unleash the potential of all our towns, cities and villages.
He added: “But that can only happen if we end the dither, delay and paralysis in Westminster. We need to get Brexit done so the country can move on.”
But Shadow Communities Secretary Andrew Gwynne said it was the Tories who were “destroying” towns and high streets, through austerity measures.
“A decade of vicious cuts to the services that people in our communities rely on, has taken 60p in every £1 from council budgets,” he added.
“There is a clear choice in this election on 12 December: more of the same with Boris Johnson’s Tories or real change and investment under Labour."
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