With rumours growing that the Government may be preparing to row back on business rates increases, Will Forster, Liberal Democrat MP for Woking, has said that Ministers need to provide “urgent clarity” to pubs, hospitality and high street businesses. 

Mr Forster said that vital high street businesses are “on their last legs”, warning that action on business rates may be the “last and only chance” for the Government to save the high street. 

The beer and pubs sector is a key part of Woking’s economy, contributing £100 million and supporting more than 1,800 jobs. Woking is also home to the UK headquarters of brewing giant Asahi, alongside many independent and chain hospitality venues. 

Mr Forster has long championed the hospitality sector. He has backed the Liberal Democrats’ call for an emergency VAT cut for hospitality, opposed the Government’s Extended Producer Responsibility ‘glass bottle tax’, and held a parliamentary debate calling for a reduction in beer duty. 

Will Forster, Liberal Democrat MP for Woking, said: 

“This is the last chance saloon for our hospitality sector. From the cruel jobs tax to sky-high energy bills, I’ve heard from countless small businesses in Woking that they are on their last legs and urgently need support as they face higher business rates and a punishing employers’ National Insurance hike imposed by this Labour Government. 

“The Government has a chance to reverse its mistakes. It must respond by u-turning on business rates and announcing support for all hospitality businesses, including Lib Dem proposals that would immediately cut VAT from 20% to 15% for hospitality, accommodation, and attractions, boosting struggling high streets and slashing prices for hard-pressed families. 

“This is a pivotal moment for Ministers, they must provide the urgent clarity that these struggling businesses need. It is their last and only chance to get our high streets thriving again.” 

Will Forster MP and the Liberal Democrats have called for the Chancellor to slash VAT for the hospitality sector, ahead of the Budget this week.

Woking’s MP and other key local Lib Dems have visited Cellar Magnifique in Woking, a small, independent wine bar and met Roland Foxcroft, who owns the business.

Will has echoed their party’s calls for an emergency 5% VAT cut for pubs, restaurants and other hospitality and entertainment businesses at the Budget, as part of a bold £12bn plan to tackle the cost of living. 

The Lib Dem proposals would immediately cut VAT from 20% to 15% for hospitality, accommodation, and attractions, boosting struggling high streets and slashing prices for hard-pressed families.

This would form part of a two-pronged approach to tackling the cost of living crisis with the party also calling on Rachel Reeves to reduce household energy bills by removing the current renewables obligation levy. This combined support package, in place until April 2027, would save a typical family around £270 over the next eighteen months, and supporting high streets by putting spare cash back into people’s pockets.

The proposals would be funded by a new windfall tax on big banks, originally proposed by the IPPR think tank, which could raise around £30bn in total between now and 2030. 

Lib Dem MP for Woking, Will Forster said:

“Like many other small businesses and hospitality venues across Surrey, Cellar Magnifique has had to face higher business rates bills and a punishing Employers’ National Insurance hike imposed by this Labour Government. 

“The jobs tax is a mess of the Chancellor’s own making and she needs to put it right by reversing it.”

“We have so many fantastic businesses in Surrey and I want to see them thriving, and that can happen if the Chancellor listens to us.“

Towards the end of recess, I visited the Lansbury Business Estate and met with two of the directors, Mark and James Craven. The estate is home to more than 80 fantastic local businesses spanning a wide range of sectors. 

It was inspiring to see the breadth of expertise we have based right here in Woking, and the global reach of these businesses – a testament to our phenomenal local skills base. From high-tech manufacturing to aerial photography, toolmaking, food importing and printing, the diversity is remarkable.  

I could easily write an article about each of the businesses I visited, but I’m going to focus on the many challenges facing British industry that I heard so clearly about. Unfortunately, far too many of these stem directly from failures in government policy.  

Decisions by both the former Conservative government and the current Labour administration have created a climate that is far from pro-business. Business rates, international trade and the high costs businesses in Woking face were amongst the issues raised. Without changes, the UK risks undermining both its immediate recovery and its long-term economic growth. 

Last year's increase to Employers’ National Insurance contributions and steep hikes in business rates are squeezing profit margins, making it much harder to expand and grow.  

Almost all the businesses I spoke to told me of the continuing impact of Brexit – border delays, increased costs for imports and exports, and additional checks by government agencies are creating significant barriers to trading with Europe. 

To ease the damage caused by Brexit, a few of the exporters I spoke to have pivoted towards North America and the Middle East but have subsequently been hit hard by Trump’s tariffs. 

With the US now an increasingly unreliable partner, it is clearer than ever that we need to reset our relationship with Europe. They are our closest neighbours and remain our largest trading partners and if we are serious about growth, then improving trading terms with the EU is vital. 

Not only would it ease the pressure on trade, but it could also help address spiralling energy costs – a major concern raised by manufacturers at Lansbury. Rising bills are not only threatening their profitability, but their viability to continue local production. 

It’s simply unacceptable that so many local businesses are being held back by poor decision making in Westminster. I want to change that so that our incredible local businesses can thrive, and continue to create the economic growth and opportunities our town deserves. 

Over the course of this parliamentary session, I’ll be working with some of the businesses I met at Lansbury to shape the questions I ask in Parliament and to push for the policy improvements they need to see. 

If you run a business in Woking and feel similar pressures, then please let me know at will.forster.mp@parliament.uk. 

Will Forster MP, Chair of the Southwestern Railway APPG, has slammed rail fare increases, set to come through next year. 

This means commuters between Woking and London face an eye-watering increase of £313.55 per year, making the overall cost £5,719.55.

New figures released today (20 August 2025) indicate that regulated rail fares are set to rise to heights of 6% in 2026-27 should the government choose to follow existing policy and increase fares in line with July’s Retail Price Index. 

Will Forster, MP for Woking, is calling for these rail fares to be frozen.

Will recently sent a letter to Sir Andrew Haines of Network Rail about the repeated signalling failures causing extensive delays, ongoing overcrowding at peak times, and frequent service disruption on Southwestern Railway (SWR) services.  

Will is chair of the Southwestern Railway APPG and has repeated his call for a rail fare freeze, on behalf of every MP and their constituents on the route. SWR covers over 60 constituencies in the UK.

The experience of travelling on SWR has become increasingly stressful, uncomfortable, and unreliable. Passengers rightly expect better. Now with these rail fare increases, people are getting an even worse deal.

 

Commenting on the rail fare rise, Will Forster, Liberal Democrat MP for Woking said: 

“At a time of endless cancellations and a cost of living crisis, it is appalling that commuters are being asked to pay more and get less.

“What was chaos under the Conservatives has become out of touch complacency under Labour. We’re still being ripped off, but now with a different government.

“The Liberal Democrats are calling for a freeze on fares and a service people can actually rely on. Hiking prices now is a false economy that will only drive passengers away.

“I’ll be raising this directly with South Western Railway as Chair of the SWR APPG, so we can both put pressure on Labour over this ridiculous move in the cost of living crisis.”

 

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Will Forster, Liberal Democrat MP for Woking, has urged the Government and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to work together to swiftly deliver a compensation scheme that will see lenders who mis-sold car finance deals “make up for their actions”. This comes after the financial watchdog announced a consultation this week on a possible compensation scheme. 

The news follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling that opened the possibility of compensation for particularly large car finance commissions, which judges said were unfair. Car buyers may also be entitled to payouts if their dealer had secretly hiked the interest rate on their car loan through what is known as a “discretionary commission arrangement” (DCA). 

This week, the financial watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority said it will launch a consultation in early October to determine what a potential compensation scheme might look like. It said that “if the compensation scheme goes ahead, the first payments should be made in 2026.” 

The UK’s largest car finance lender, Lloyds Bank, had previously set aside £1.2bn to cover compensation claims. 

Will Forster, Liberal Democrat MP for Woking, said: 

“Last week’s Supreme Court ruling is a victory for consumers, paving the way for billions of pounds in compensation to those unfairly ripped off. 

“For too long, lenders had been able to get away with charging eye-watering and unfair commission on car finance deals. I hope that the Government and the financial watchdog will now work together so that those affected can get the compensation they are owed as quickly as possible. 

“It’s only fair that big finance firms make up for their actions.” 

ENDS

Notes to editor: 

The FCA’s announcement on its consultation on a compensation scheme can be found here: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-consult-motor-finance-compensation-scheme 

Liberal Democrat MP Will Forster has welcomed the news that Ofwat is being replaced by a tougher water regulator as a victory for local people.

Scrapping Ofwat and bringing in much stronger regulation of water companies to tackle sewage dumping was a key commitment in the Liberal Democrat manifesto last year.
 
Will Forster MP commented on the news:

“I am pleased that action is finally being taken to tackle sewage dumping and clean up our rivers, after years of the Conservatives turning a blind eye to this scandal.

"The Liberal Democrats have led the way in demanding tougher action against sewage pollution, soaring bills and bloated bonuses for water company bosses. 

“This wouldn’t be happening without the incredible support we received from people across Woking, and the rest of Surrey, at the general election last year. I heard from countless people who were furious about the state of our local rivers and the water companies being let off the hook.

“This fight is far from over. The government must now get on with setting up a new, stronger regulator to hold water companies to account.

“I will be relentlessly fighting to ensure sewage spills are stopped, bills brought down, and our waterways cleaned up for everyone to enjoy in future.”