Authors urge Burnham to extend rates relief to independent bookshops
Leading novelists and the Booksellers Association have written to the prime minister, demanding that small bookshops receive the same tax break as pubs and music venues.
Andy Burnham has been asked by a coalition of bestselling authors and around 200 booksellers to broaden his recent business‑rates relief package to cover independent bookshops. The letter, signed by writers including Maggie O’Farrell and Philip Pullman, argues that bookshops deliver community value comparable to pubs and live‑music venues, which were granted immediate relief after Burnham took office.
“Following the announcement of new relief for pubs, clubs and live music venues, we were deeply disappointed to learn that bookshops would not be included,” the authors wrote.
The appeal comes as the Treasury confirms that bookshops already benefit from a reduced rates multiplier and a temporary cap on tax increases. However, the writers contend that these measures are set to expire later this decade, leaving many stores facing annual hikes of roughly £4,500 by 2029‑30, a sum that would require selling over a thousand extra titles each year.
Why the push matters now
Independent bookshops contribute more than sales; they sustain local economies and provide social spaces. The Booksellers Association estimates that total rates paid by these shops could rise by 35 per cent to £5.65 million by 2030. With Labour pledging broader retail support, the authors argue that the omission undermines the government’s own statement that businesses delivering “significant community benefit” deserve targeted aid.
What could happen next
If Burnham extends the relief, bookshops would avoid the projected tax burden and retain the capacity to fund community events and literacy initiatives. Failure to act may see a wave of closures, further eroding the vibrancy of high streets across the UK.
Former doctor‑turned‑author Adam Kay welcomed the relief for pubs but warned that bookshops need the same help to stay afloat. “Bookshops are too, and right now they need the same helping hand,” he said.
Stakeholders are watching the government’s response closely, especially as broader fiscal pressures on UK retailers are highlighted in recent analyses of tax policy and economic growth.
