Newsroom

BPF empty rates campaign victory

The BPF won ‘Private Sector Public Affairs Campaign of the Year’ at the Public Affairs News Awards last night for its empty rates work.

The campaign against the cut in business rate relief for vacant commercial space began cautiously in April 2007 before bursting into a huge public row that saw the BPF unite together hundreds of companies, MPs, public sector bodies and councils.

A concession achieved in last year’s pre-Budget report handed back some of the tax to the owners of small properties. Although the BPF has criticised government spin surround the so-called ‘holiday’ from empty rates, the campaign has been the most high profile lobbying campaign ever run by the industry.

As well as generating an unprecedented level of media coverage, the BPF also set up a hotline for those affected which in itself proved vital in fuelling the campaign and disseminating stories. This was followed with an online resource at emptyrates.com and a Number 10 e-petition signed by over 5,000 people. Over 125 MPs backed the BPF’s campaign.

The Public Affairs News Awards were taking place for the fifth time and attracted more than 300 revellers to the Brewery in the City of London. Daisy McAndrew of ITV News presented the ceremony.

In a typically ironic twist, ‘Politician of the Year’ was given to Lord Mandelson who had famously declared empty rates were ‘good for business’. The business secretary had been at odds with chief whip Nick Brown, also minister for the North East. A Cabinet split - fashioned by the BPF’s press office - hit the headlines last autumn as their views were pitched side by side in the Telegraph, Times and FT as well the BBC, causing embarrassment for the government.

Andrew Teacher, head of media at the BPF, said:

“It’s fantastic that our efforts have been recognised after all the blood, sweat, tears and late nights endured throughout our fight. People often don’t realise how small the BPF team behind the campaign was, but between us, we literally travelled the length and breadth of the country battling this absurd tax which continues to damage our future.

“Clearly, we owe a massive deal of thanks to all the other organisations we worked alongside and our member companies who provided us with the ammunition. And of course we couldn’t have done without our friends in the media who worked closely with us to fire out story after story. As a journalist, my personal highlight has to be the Cabinet split last November and the furore that the ensuing coverage caused.

“While the concession we won in the Budget was smaller that we would have liked, it was definitely worth having. In addition, the BPF’s and the industry’s profile is now immensely bigger and, if people know who we are, it ensures that our voice will be heard a lot clearer in the future.”

For more information see www.emptyrates.com or call the BPF on 020 7828 0111. or contact Andrew Teacher on 07968 124545 or ateacher@bpf.org.uk

Press highlights

Please see www.emptyrates.com/national with several picked out below.

BBC Six O’Clock News – 26 August 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06QUsj90nBo&feature=channel_page

Bloomberg Money and Politics (TV) – 23 August 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUfnsaaevbk&feature=channel_page

The Times – April 1 2008

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/construction_and_property/article3656102.ece

Mail on Sunday – 3 August 2008
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/markets/article.html?in_article_id=448899&in_page_id=3

The Guardian – 26 August 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/aug/26/development.tax