The government must urgently examine alternatives to business rates instead of “sticking plasters” on a system in need of reform, a group of MPs has warned (The Times £). Business rates have come under fresh attack from MPs amid fears the tax is crippling Britain’s high street - but they fell short of putting forward more concrete plans to tackle ‘a broken system’ (The Telegraph). The business rates system is broken and the government must undertake an urgent review to find alternatives, an influential committee of MPs has said (The Guardian). MPs have urged the government to seek alternatives to the “broken” business rates system which they say is placing an unfair burden on struggling high street retailers (Sky News).

Tesco and Co-op bosses join forces with plan to fix unfair system. Writing in The Daily Mail, they suggest: “First, cut business rates for all retailers by 20%. Second, level the playing field on tax between online and high street shops by introducing an online sales levy of 2%”. (The Daily Mail)

Britons are losing confidence in the economy and are growing increasingly pessimistic about the state of their personal finances, offering a clear sign that political upheaval is damaging consumer confidence (The Times £).

Juul Labs is facing new claims that it has put public health at risk after a former executive of the vaping company alleged it shipped at least 1m “contaminated” nicotine pods for its e-cigarettes. (The Financial Times £)

A loyalty programme paid off handsomely for Starbucks last night as the American coffee chain beat estimates for quarterly same-restaurant sales. (The Times £)

For now, Just Eat still seems intent on going Dutch, writes The Times £. “Some British investors have grumbled that the proposed share split is too stingy; you feel that Prosus would not have to sweeten its offer too much to get them onside. Shareholders then would be well advised to take the South African money and run.” (The Times £)

A slew of high-profile corporate failures including Wrightbus, Jack Wills and football club Bury pushed the number of administrations over the summer to a five-year high, Insolvency Service figures have revealed. (The Telegraph)

Foie gras, the controversial French delicacy made of goose or duck liver, is to be banned in New York over claims of animal cruelty. (Sky News)

Australia’s biggest supermarket chain has agreed to pay back up to A$300m in unpaid wages and is to be investigated by the Fair Work Ombudsman in one of the largest underpayment scandals in the nation’s history (The Financial Times £). The supermarket giant Woolworths is to be investigated by the Fair Work Ombudsman in what is believed to be Australia’s biggest wage underpayment case after admitting it owes staff as much as $300m (The Guardian).

Marks & Spencer is to become the first major British retailer to sell own-brand halal ready-meals in response to the growing demand from Muslim customers. (The Times £)

Topics