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The plight of rural pubs highlighted in Parliament

Thursday, 22 January 2026 at 09:44

Source: Rutland & Stamford Sound Facebook page

The plight of rural pubs has been highlighted in Parliament, including the Bertie Arms in Uffington,

which is facing the highest rateable increase in the country. Rutland and Stamford MP Alicia Kearns raised it in the House yesterday and was disappointed with the Prime Minister's response as he pointed to pub closures under the Conservatives and didn't give many reassurances.

‘Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Bertie Arms is a fantastic family pub, but because of the Chancellor's tax rate on local business, they face a 2000% increase in their business rates by 2029. That means the Treasury will lose £200,000 in taxes and Uffington will lose the heart of its community. Now the Prime Minister promised not to put up taxes on working people. So how does he justify a 2000% tax attack on working family businesses like this pub? Well, Mr Speaker, we're working with the sector to put in the necessary support, but I would remind her that 7,000 pubs closed on their watch and she didn't say a word about it’.

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