Budget to offer business rates relief for small shops

Chancellor’s move should give breathing space to high street retailers squeezed by online rivalsThe chancellor will cut business rates bills by a third for almost half a million small high street shops in a £1.5bn spending pledge to fight the threat posed by Amazon and other online retailers.In next week’s budget, Philip Hammond will order £900m of immediate business rates relief for small retailers in an effort to combat shuttered shops on the high street, where small bu