Rachel Reeves risks turning Britain into a “black market economy”, an MP has warned. This is despite Labour’s £150million crackdown on “fronts for organised crime” as part of its new strategy for high streets, which officials said would encourage “real local businesses” to replace vape shops and mini marts.
Conservative MP Jack Rankin blasted Labour’s new strategy, accusing the Government of throwing money at the effects of their own failed tax policies. The Windsor MP suggested the Chancellor’s so-called “sin taxes” were undermining Labour’s efforts to tackle organised crime in towns and cities across Britain, and pointed to tobacco tax rises due to take effect this year. He said: “This is sticking-plaster politics – throwing money at the symptoms while ignoring what’s actually driving the decline of our high streets.” Mr Rankin added that the Government’s policies are “fuelling the rise of shopfronts that operate as fronts for organised crime”.
