Stories

Wed, 01 Apr 2026

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 Call for business rates reform as Scots face cost of living crunch

One live music bar firm in Glasgow says it is facing a near six-fold increase and may have to lay off staff.

* Scottish government provides £900m transitional relief for businesses, but critics say it's not enough
* Companies like Wunderbar in Glasgow face near six-fold increase in business rates, forcing them to cut staff
* First Minister John Swinney warns of "very significant" financial pressures and criticizes UK government for sleep-walking into another cost-of-living crisis
* Scottish politicians from all parties pledge to reform the business rates system, with plans including scrapping parking charges, reducing household costs, and capping heating oil prices
* Business leaders warn that the current system is "rigged" in favor of bigger companies and online giants, leading to job losses and closures
* UK government's response to energy price crisis criticized for being too slow, with help promised but not yet delivered.