Government
The latest news, updates and analysis on the government and what it is doing that affects the UK retail industry. Sign up to the Daily Briefing and let Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
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Jun- 2024 -14 June
BRC welcomes Labour manifesto
The BRC has welcomed Labour’s manifesto, saying it includes “many of the right policies” to help retail invest in the future, upskill its workforce, and play its part in growing the economy. If elected, Labour has promised to make changes that will have a “meaningful” impact to retailers and their…
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May- 2024 -22 May
General election called for 4 July
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed that a general election will take place on Thursday 4 July. The prime minister informed the cabinet of his plans in a meeting held this afternoon (22 May). As a result the parliament will be dissolved next week. Sunak had previously confirmed that an…
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Apr- 2024 -10 April
Assault of retail staff to be made specific criminal offence
The Government has announced that assaulting a retail worker will be made a standalone criminal offence and serial or abusive shoplifters will face tougher punishments under new laws included in its Criminal Justice Bill. Perpetrators could be sent to prison for up to six months, receive an unlimited fine and…
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5 April
Theo Paphitis slams gov’s ‘disappointing’ attitude towards retail
Theo Paphitis has called out the government’s “disappointing” attitude towards the industry’s importance, Retail Week has reported. It comes as Paphitis’ retail group, which comprises Ryman, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue, achieved improved profitability in its full-year results. Paphitis said he had increased investment in his brands, whilst the government was…
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Feb- 2024 -14 February
Abuse of retail workers almost doubles to 1,300 incidents a day
Violence and abuse against retail workers jumped almost 50% as the number of incidents rose to 1,300 per day in 2022/23 from almost 870 per day the year before, according to data from the British Retail Consortium. This rise comes despite retailers investing heavily in crime prevention, spending £1.2bn on…
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Jan- 2024 -24 January
BRC launches ‘Manifesto for Retail’ ahead of General Election
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has announced the launch of its “Manifesto for Retail” ahead of the anticipated General Election this year. The organisation has laid out a vision with three main aims, a more coordinated approach to tax and regulation, jobs and Net Zero and the circular economy. On…
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Nov- 2023 -23 November
BRC accuses Hunt of ‘selling out’ retailers and customers
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has accused the chancellor of selling out retailers and customers in his Autumn Statement delivered yesterday (22 November). In the budget Hunt froze the business rates multiplier for small businesses but offered nothing to larger ones. He also increased the National Living Wage to £11.44…
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8 November
BRC welcomes government pledge to bring down inflation
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has welcomed the government’s pledge to bring down inflation as outlined in the King’s Speech yesterday (7 November). However, the body has criticised the decision to omit retail crime from its pledge for future crime legislation. As part of his speech the King announced that…
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Oct- 2023 -2 October
Retail bosses demand action over rising retail crime
Retail bosses from some 88 companies have signed a letter to the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, demanding action over rising rates of retail crime. The retail industry has demanded that the government create a standalone offence of assaulting or abusing retail workers, with tougher sentences for offenders to act as…
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Aug- 2023 -22 August
Bottle recycling scheme to cost at least £1.8bn a year, warns BRC
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that government plans to introduce a bottle recycling scheme could cost the industry £1.8bn a year from 2025. The BRC also stated that this figure does not include the hundreds of millions that would be needed to set up a body to run…
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