BRITAIN’S pubs could be the latest beneficiary of Labour backbench pressure on the government as concerns mount over the future of the struggling sector.

Labour MPs, many of whom have been banned from their locals in protest at escalating costs imposed on pubs by government, have been pushing for business rates reform.

Senior Cabinet minister Pat McFadden indicated today that more support could be forthcoming, as he insisted the government values “the role of the pub in British life.”

He told the BBC that the government had earmarked more than £4 billion to help pubs in the face of steep rating revaluations and the end of Covid-era support.

He added that “pubs, the trade association, pub owners themselves, have said that’s not enough, you must understand our difficulties.

“We appreciate how important the pub industry is economically and culturally to the UK, so we’ll keep talking to the pub industry. We really value the role of the pub in British life. We want to help pubs.”

York MP Rachael Maskell had pressed Sir Keir Starmer on the issue in the Commons, saying many businesses in her city were facing closure.

“In York, hospitality sees an average business rate rise of 41 per cent, a music venue 44.4 per cent and many independent shops increase around 27 per cent.  It will mean doors closing and trade ceasing, they just can’t do it,” she told the Prime Minister.

Sir Keir responded that “we are continuing to work with and talk to the sector on that support and what further support and action we can take.”