By bizn_fun 
Around 1,000 pubs had banned Labour politicians from their premises in protest at the prospect of increased costs both from the revaluation and the withdrawal of Covid-era support.
In her November Budget, the chancellor scaled back business rate discounts that have been in force since the pandemic from 75% to 40% – and announced that there would be no discount at all from April.
Many Labour MPs – as well as opposition politicians – are concerned that any support package could exclude the wider hospitality sector such as hotels and live music venues. They are pressing for a wider U-turn.
The letter was co-ordinated by Knowsley MP and Culture, Media and Sport Committee member Anneliese Midgley, and includes Labour MPs on the committee.
It states: “Many of us have been contacted by constituents in recent months who use and run these critical music spaces, explaining that they will be severely impacted by the 2026 business rates revaluation.”
It asks the chancellor to cancel the April increase until a new and less damaging method of valuing music venues can be devised.
It also calls for more support for recording studios, claiming as many as half of them are under threat from the rates revaluation.
The Treasury has been approached for comment.