Reported by The Guardian
Housing secretary says Labour wants to reverse fortunes of towns plagued by boarded-up shops and rogue businesses
Angela Rayner has said voters will begin to see a difference in their high street before the next general election as Labour prioritises investment in struggling local communities.
The housing secretary said the government had made it a top priority before the country goes to the polls to begin turning around the fortunes of places blighted by boarded-up shops and rogue businesses.
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“There’s been a real sense of decline,” she said. “People see it as part of the identity of their town and area, and that’s why we’ve got our high streets strategy.”
Speaking after John Healey, the chancellor, earmarked more than £1bn in his debut budget on Wednesday to support retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, Rayner signalled that the government stood ready to take further action.
“The chancellor has shown he’s backing our high streets, backing our businesses that have been struggling and giving them the breathing space,” she said. “And he’s going to continue with that.”
In an interview for the Guardian’s series on the fortunes of Britain’s towns, Rayner insisted that the budget was “moving the needle” for the economy as she sought to defend Healey from criticism.
On Thursday the chancellor was warned by the Resolution Foundation and the Institute for Fiscal Studies that his measures were poorly targeted and had paved the way for a “brutal” spending review next year.
Meanwhile, the owners of Poundland filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators , putting up to 12,000 jobs at risk in a blow for towns across the country where the discount chain is a high street fixture.
Speaking before that announcement, Rayner said the government was taking action to ease the pressure on businesses and households amid the damage to Britain’s economy from the Middle East war.
“All these businesses that people value, that make up a thriving high street, the chancellor is really giving them support,” she said.
Asked whether voters would be able to see a difference in their local shopping districts before the next…