Northern Ireland indie retail ‘unfairly treated’ says Retail NI in response to Autumn Statement

By Tony Corbin in Industry News 23rd November 2023

The business rates relief announcement from the chancellor in yesterday’s (22 November) Autumn Statement has been well received by many in the retail industry in England but there are fears that Northern Ireland could be left behind.

Responding to the Autumn Statement Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said: “Following the Chancellors Autumn Statement our top priority will be to secure the 75% reduction in business rates in England to include Northern Ireland small businesses and independent retailers.

“Why should businesses in NI be so unfairly treated in comparison to their English counterparts?”

“Our members are already paying the highest business rates in the UK, we should have parity of rate relief with England”.

“Coming on the back of the withdrawal of Levelling Up funding, this Statement is another disappointment with very little substantive support for Northern Ireland businesses”.

“We deserve so much better than this”.