Our local shops and the wholesalers who supply them are the backbone of our communities. Tomorrow’s Budget must support them, not punish them.
Current business rates reform risks hitting large-scale depots, many family-run rather than global giants, pushing higher costs onto shops, cafés, and households.
In my article for Conservative Home, I explain why targeted relief for food and drink wholesalers is essential to protect jobs, keep costs down, and support local businesses.
You can have a read of it here: https://conservativehome.com/2025/11/18/rebecca-smith-the-budget-must-back-our-local-businesses-and-the-wholesalers-who-supply-them-not-punishing-them/.
