Britain's struggling high streets will improve by next election, says Angela Rayner

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner stated that voters will begin to notice improvements in their local high streets before the next general election. According to Rayner, the government has prioritized reversing the decline of towns affected by boarded-up shops and rogue businesses.

Speaking following the budget presented on Wednesday by Chancellor John Healey—who allocated over £1 billion to support retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses—Rayner indicated that further government action is planned. She defended the budget's economic impact during an interview for a Guardian series.

Budget Measures and Business Rates

• Business Rates Relief: Scheduled business rate cuts for retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses are set to begin in April of next year.
• Funding Initiatives: The government has pointed to a £5.8 billion "pride in place" regeneration programme and a £210 million fund designated to transform derelict buildings.
• Online Retail Tax Exploration: Budget documents indicate that ministers are exploring how business rates could better target online retailers to help level the playing field for bricks-and-mortar stores.

Challenges and Criticisms

• Economic Warnings: On Thursday, the Resolution Foundation and the Institute for Fiscal Studies cautioned that the budget measures were poorly targeted and could lead to a challenging spending review next year.
• Retail Sector Pressures: Amid economic damage linked to the Middle East conflict, the owners of Poundland filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, potentially threatening thousands of jobs nationwide.
• Calls for Reform: Business leaders and figures such as former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane have argued that broader reforms and higher taxes on online sales are necessary to properly support traditional high streets.

To verify original announcements, readers can consult official government budget publications and statements from the housing and treasury departments.