Tories pledge to scrap business rates for shops and pubs

Sir Mel Stride vowed that a future Tory government would scrap business rates for high street shops and pubs (Danny Lawson/PA) - (PA Wire)

The Conservatives will abolish business rates for high street shops and pubs if they win the next election, the shadow chancellor has promised.

Sir Mel Stride made the commitment as he addressed the Conservative Party conference on Monday, saying the “burden of Labour’s tax rises” had been “simply too much to bear” for many businesses.