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Tories pledge on UK backdated rates fiasco

16 years ago

The British Conservative Party has pledged to call a halt to the collection of backdated port business rates and carry out a review of the issue, if it wins the upcoming General Election.

Port Strategy: "If elected, we will have an immediate moratorium on collections of arrears, which is the real issue that is causing the problem," Lore Michael Bates, Conservative MP

Lord Michael Bates, a key figure in the campaign against retrospective rates faced by hundreds of port companies around England and Wales, said the policy decision was being announced ahead of the official party manifesto to try to ease pressure on companies on the brink.

It was hoped that this would “stave off” councils from forcing payment, he said.