Four supermarkets are still resisting widespread calls to hand back pandemic tax breaks despite seeing a boom in sales.
Ministers praised the ‘impressive’ decision by eight retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda to return business rates relief on the back of strong sales, describing them as ‘real models of good, healthy capitalism’.
‘Healthy capitalism’: Ministers praised the ‘impressive’ decision by eight retailers to return business rates relief on the back of strong sales
Pets at Home and Lidl yesterday joined the list, bringing the total windfall for the taxpayer to £1.95billion.
But Iceland and Co-op have resisted calls to follow suit, while Waitrose and Marks & Spencer said they will hold on to their rates relief because of the impact of closures on their department stores.
Esther McVey, leader of the Blue Collar Conservative group of MPs, said: ‘If you didn’t need business rates relief, if you have done well and prospered, you should hand it back.’
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