The Conservatives, Labour, and Liberal Democrats have unveiled their manifesto this week ahead of the General Election on 4 July, with some policies having a host of implications for retail.

From scrapping business rates to tackling retail crime, Retail Gazette compares the manifesto of the rival parties.

Commenting on the Labour’s policies, British Retail Consortium (BRC) CEO Helen Dickinson said: “The Labour manifesto includes many of the right policies to help retail invest for the future, upskill its workforce, and play its part in growing the UK economy.

“From replacing the broken business rates system, to reforming the rigid Apprenticeship Levy, Labour are promising to make changes that will have a meaningful impact to retailers and their customers.”

Equally Dickinson welcomed the Lib Dems addressing business rates and the Apprenticeship Levy,

However, despite applauding the Conservatives initiatives to tackle retail crime, the retail trade body boss said its manifesto “fails to take the bull by the horns” on these issues.

Dickinson said: “The Conservative manifesto highlights the need for a tax system that incentivises business to invest, yet does little to bring this about for the retail industry. With business rates now at a record high of 54.6p in the pound, the Conservative promise to ‘continue to ease the burden of business rates’ for businesses on the high street will ring hollow to many retailers.

“Despite previous promises to reform the broken business rates system, we continue to see empty shops around the country that have fallen prey to sky high rates. And while the full details of the proposals to offset high street business rates by raising rates for warehousing would need to be seen, it is hard to see it as a viable solution given the wide range of retailers that sell goods online as well as from stores.”

Elsewhere, New West End Company CEO Dee Corsi welcomed Conservative plans to reform the rigid planning system, grant extra police powers to deal with anti-social behaviour and, importantly, introduce tougher sentencing for those who assault retail workers.

However, she termed the manifesto “a missed opportunity to show a serious commitment to business growth”.

Corsi said: “The idea of increasing business rate multipliers on distribution warehouses ignores the fact that modern retailers sell both online and in-store. This, compounded with the decision to not reintroduce tax-free shopping, would further squeeze UK business.”

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