THE MP for Barrow and Furness, Simon Fell, said it was right that money saved in business rates was paid back by Tesco, as it was intended to help smaller businesses and protect the high street not provide additional money to supermarkets who profited through the pandemic.

On December 3, Tesco announced it would pay £585 million it saved in business rate relief.

Commenting, Mr Fell said: “I hope this is the start of many supermarkets coming forward agreeing to pay what they were expecting to pay anyway. The Government acted quickly and responsibly to try and protect as many businesses and jobs as possible and it was the right thing to do.

"However, supermarkets remained open and to an extent profited during the pandemic while others were forced to close their doors.

"It is right they pay back the money, which could be used to help struggling businesses and our high streets in Barrow and Furness.”

The Mail: MP: Simon FellMP: Simon Fell

Simon is part of Blue-Collar Conservatism (BCC) and added his name to a letter written by Tatton MP Esther McVey calling on all supermarket bosses to hand over the £1.9 billion they were expecting to pay before the pandemic hit.

Earlier this year, Simon Fell was part of BCC supported calls to increase the sentence someone can be given if guilty of assaulting a shopworker after cases reportedly soared during the first lockdown.