U-turn over business rates hike for pubs expected in coming days, Sky News understandsSky News deputy political editor Sam Coates has been looking into the potential risk to the hospitality sector with upcoming business rate hikes. Sam has now heard that a rescue package that could help with this is coming in the next few days - but only for pubs. As Sam mentioned on this morning's Politics at Sam and Anne's, it poses a big political headache for the prime minister and the chancellor. The sector argues the new business rates, while lower than before COVID, do not go far enough, and they are disproportionately affected as they have physical stores, restaurants and pubs - unlike online giants. Watch this video from Sky's chief political correspondent Jon Craig to see why Reeves had been facing a bitter backlash from pubs.

Source: The Times January 08, 2026 08:00 UTC