Westminster Hall debateWestminster HallThursday, 4 June 202615:00

Government support for high street businesses

Backbench debate (separate chamber, no votes)

Olly Glover (Lib Dem, Didcot and Wantage) is calling for a Westminster Hall debate on government support for high street businesses. The debate will examine what targeted support the government should provide to struggling town centres and retail businesses, particularly in the context of economic pressures, high business rates, and competition from online shopping. This is an opportunity to scrutinise the adequacy of current support schemes and explore potential policy solutions.

High streets and town centres are economically and socially important across the UK. Retail employs hundreds of thousands and struggling high streets affect local communities, tax revenues, and regional inequality. The debate allows MPs to press the government on whether existing support is sufficient or whether additional measures—such as rates relief, grants, or planning reform—are needed to sustain viable town centres.

Economy & Jobs (General)Local Government

MPs most likely to speak

David SimmondsConservative and Unionist Party

Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner

Shadow Levelling Up — portfolio topic overlap (35pts); Spoken on economy-jobs, local-government, fiscal-policy (312 times, 40pts); Known positions: local-government: questioning, local-government: opposed, local-government: neutral (30pts)Voting record

Chris BryantLabour Party

Rhondda and Ogmore

Minister of State — portfolio topic overlap (35pts); Spoken on economy-jobs, local-government, agriculture (328 times, 40pts); Known positions: technology: supportive, economy-jobs: supportive, economy-jobs: neutral (30pts)Voting record

Dame Harriett BaldwinConservative and Unionist Party

West Worcestershire

Shadow Business and Trade — portfolio topic overlap (35pts); Venue: 15 Westminster Hall debates (×0.7); Spoken on economy-jobs, local-government, agriculture (477 times, 28pts); Known positions: economy-jobs: opposed, fiscal-policy: opposed, economy-jobs: questioning (21pts); Committee: treasury committee (20pts)Voting record

Olly GloverLiberal Democrats

Didcot and Wantage

Debate sponsor/lead member (calendar Members field)Voting record

Mr Alistair CarmichaelLiberal Democrats

Orkney and Shetland

Spoken on economy-jobs, local-government, agriculture (338 times, 40pts); Known positions: economy-jobs: questioning, agriculture: opposed, agriculture: supportive (30pts); Committee: environment, food and rural affairs committee (Chair) (25pts)Voting record

Government support for high street businesses

MPs most likely to speak

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