Tessa Munt, MP for Wells and rural areas around Burnham-On-Sea, has urged the Government to step in and support struggling high street businesses after new figures revealed dozens of closures across Somerset in the first half of the year.
The Lib Dem MP says fresh ONS data shows 60 Somerset businesses shut their doors in the first six months of 2026.
Tessa is pressing ministers to overhaul what she describes as a “broken” business rates system and to abandon the planned National Insurance Contribution rise, which she says will place further pressure on employers already struggling with rising costs.
Tessa adds: “Across my ‘patch’ we’ve seen an unacceptable rise in business closures, following decades of neglect and mismanagement by consecutive Labour and Conservative Governments.”
“Sky high business rates threaten our tourist industry, shoplifting impacts our high streets, and I will continue to do all I can to challenge the Government on this.”
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