Rutland MP Alicia Kearns has spoken out from a small community pub, asking Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer to explain the increase on business rates for pubs.

Kearns asked: 'The Bertie Arms is a fantastic family pub, but because of the Chancellor's tax raid on local business, they face a 2,000 percent increase in their business rates by 2029.

'That means the Treasury will lose £200,000 in tax take and Uffington will lose the heart of its community.

'The Prime Minister promised not to put up taxes on working people, so how does he justify a 2,000 percent tax attack on working family businesses like this pub?'

In response, Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer said: 'We're working with the sector to put in the necessary support, but I would remind her that 7,000 pubs closed on their [The Conservative's] watch and she didn't say a word about it.

In a statement published by Kearns after, she said: 'I was deeply disappointed that rather than offering a helping hand to our pubs and rural communities, or offering to review the impact of his decision on our pubs, the Prime Minister launched an inaccurate political attack.'

According to The House of Commons, new business rates will take effect from 1 April 2026, substantially changing business rates bills for many businesses.

However, a lot of pub landlords have come forward criticising what they see as unfair increases.

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The trade association UK Hospitality has said that 'in 2027/28, an average pub's rates will be £4,500 higher than today, and in 2028/29, £7,000 higher.'

The Government claim this is to adjust business rates to remove covid-era reliefs.

Kearns has spoken out against these business rate increases, saying they will cripple small, family-owned pubs and the communities they serve, especially in rural areas of her Rutland and Stamford constituencies.