Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, has criticised the Government, saying local businesses are "still waiting with bated breath" for support following the recent Budget.

The Chancellor John Healey announced on Wednesday, 27 October that the Government will increase the threshold for high street business rates relief from £12,000 to £18,000, but Sir Ed said this does not go far enough for business owners in his constituency.

It comes as Kingston and Surbiton saw 540 close their doors in the first half of the year.

The Liberal Democrats said its plan would have "given local people real breathing space with a £14bn package of cost-of-living measures - including a temporary VAT cut for hospitality, accommodation, and attractions, that would have breathed new life into our high streets".

According to official Office for National Statistic (ONS) figures, there was an overall reduction in the number of local firms by 20, as business closures overtook new openings. Between 2019 and 2024, under the previous Conservative Government, Kingston and Surbiton lost 310 local shops.

Businesses that have closed include the Post Office on Victoria Road, Surbiton and North Parade, Chessington. Ed Davey has met with the Post Office and engaged with local stakeholders to fight to get these services up and running in Surbiton and Chessington.

The party's cost of living proposals include:

• A temporary VAT cut for hospitality, accommodation, and attractions, to rescue struggling high streets far beyond the Government's business rate threshold changes. The party also calls for an overhaul of the broken business rates system and a reduction in the Employer National Insurance Contributions burden.
• An Essential Energy Guarantee to cut average annual bills by £100. Every household would receive a basic energy allowance, equivalent to 50% of average energy consumption, at a discounted rate, with extra allowances for children and the discounted rate on all energy use for disabled people and those on the lowest incomes. The poorest 20% would save an average of £140.
• An emergency transport package cutting fuel duty by 10p (bringing down prices at the pump by 12p per litre), slashing bus fares to £1 from the current £3 cap, cutting rail fares by 10%, and making it cheaper to drive electric vehicles by cutting VAT on public charging and reviewing unfair network costs.

According to Sir Ed's party, the Liberal Democrats package would have "supported families over the next 18 months fully funded through a windfall tax on the big banks, a clawback on energy network monopolies, and extra oil and gas revenues caused by Trumpflation".

Download our Nub News App!

- It’s FREE and available now
- Breaking news notifications
- Your Town in Your Pocket

The Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, Ed Davey, said:"The Chancellor promised 'breathing space' in this budget but businesses in Kingston and Surbiton are still waiting with bated breath.

"After decades of neglect by the Conservatives, this Government completely missed the opportunity to turn the tide and failed to back local businesses.

"A meagre increase in the threshold for business rates doesn't touch the sides for many high street businesses that are being forced to shut up shop due to the compounding effects of costs.

"The Liberal Democrats is the only party that is providing a real solution to the cost-of-living crisis, is backing local businesses with a hospitality VAT cut, and would put money back in people's pockets to spend in our town centres."

We want to provide Kingston with more and more clickbait-free local news. To do that, we need a loyal newsletter following. Help us survive and sign up for our free weekly newsletter by clicking the link HERE.