British retailers have urged the Boris Johnson-led UK government to boost financial support for businesses in the south and east of England which have been forced to shut down in the last couple of days before Christmas. Johnson announced a fresh bout of restrictions recently, effectively shutting down non-essential shops and services, including clothing, toy stores, electrical goods outlets and hairdressers.
The announcement consequently affected thousands of outlets in the south, including London, Kent, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, and Surrey. Several retailers relied upon the last-minute rush to stores during the holiday season after the coronavirus dampened their annual sales. The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) called on the government to announce “exceptional and immediate cash grant aid” for all retail, leisure, and hospitality businesses forced to close their doors under the tier 4 restrictions.
Chief executive of LCCI, Richard Burge added that the chancellor “must also issue appropriate instructions to banks and landlords, and must suspend the payment of all forms of taxes and rates to national and local government bodies.” Chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA), Andrew Goodacre said the closures in the south and south-east were “a disaster for those businesses.” He said, “They have only been open for 17 days in the busiest month of the year and will miss out on the festive period and new year sales. They need financial support that reflects what they have lost and certainly better than the grants made available in November.”
