--- title: "BCC: Don't rob Peter to pay Paul" description: Labour must realise that you can't rob Peter to pay Paul. Business rates are an iniquitous tax and a drag on business – hitting companies of all sizes long before they make profits. --- - [About ](https://www.chamber-business.com/member/about-us) - [Membership](https://www.chamber-business.com/become-a-member-of-bedfordshire-chamber-of-commerce) - [Global Trade](https://www.chamber-business.com/exporting) - [ Events](https://my.chamber-business.com/events.html) - [ News ](https://www.chamber-business.com/blog) - [ Contact Us](https://www.chamber-business.com/contact-us) - [Members Portal](https://my.chamber-business.com/) - [BedX](https://www.chamber-business.com/bedx) - [Webinars](https://www.chamber-business.com/webinar-page) [![Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce](https://www.chamber-business.com/hubfs/Bedfordshire_Chamber_April2018_Theme/Image/logo-header.png)![Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce](https://www.chamber-business.com/hubfs/Bedfordshire_Chamber_April2018_Theme/Image/logo-header-small.png)](https://www.chamber-business.com/) T: [01582 522448](tel:01582%20522448) E: [info@chamber-business.com](mailto:info@chamber-business.com) Call **[01582 522448](tel:01582522448)** or email **[info@chamber-business.com](mailto:info@chamber-business.com)** [**](https://www.twitter.com/BedsChamberInfo) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2451144/profile) [**](https://www.facebook.com/BedfordshireChamber) - [About ](https://www.chamber-business.com/member/about-us) - [Membership](https://www.chamber-business.com/become-a-member-of-bedfordshire-chamber-of-commerce) - [Global Trade](https://www.chamber-business.com/exporting) - [ Events](https://my.chamber-business.com/events.html) - [ News ](https://www.chamber-business.com/blog) - [ Contact Us](https://www.chamber-business.com/contact-us) - [Members Portal](https://my.chamber-business.com/) - [BedX](https://www.chamber-business.com/bedx) - [Webinars](https://www.chamber-business.com/webinar-page) [Join Now](https://www.chamber-business.com/become-a-member-of-bedfordshire-chamber-of-commerce) # Latest updates and stories from Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce and its Members ## BCC: Don't rob Peter to pay Paul Written by [Paula Devine](https://www.chamber-business.com/blog/author/paula-devine) | 24 Sep 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Commenting ahead of the speech by the leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, John Longworth, Director General at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: "Labour must realise that you can't rob Peter to pay Paul. Business rates are an iniquitous tax and a drag on business – hitting companies of all sizes long before they make profits. Ed Miliband is right to look for ways to ease the business rates burden, as the BCC has urged the Treasury to do for years now. Yet we question why a freeze or cut in business rates for smaller firms should be offset by a delayed reduction in corporation tax. “To create an environment where companies can thrive, both business rates and corporation tax rates have to be contained, and the broken business rates system fundamentally reformed. The notion that you can offset cuts in one tax with changes to another doesn't deal with the real problem – the fact that the business rates system is bust and in need of reform. Ultimately, companies of all sizes need to be clear on taxes and rates bills, so that they can generate jobs and wealth with certainty.” Topics: [Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce](https://www.chamber-business.com/blog/topic/bedfordshire-chamber-of-commerce), [HMRC](https://www.chamber-business.com/blog/topic/hmrc), [British Chambers of Commerce](https://www.chamber-business.com/blog/topic/british-chambers-of-commerce), [News](https://www.chamber-business.com/blog/topic/news), [Politics](https://www.chamber-business.com/blog/topic/politics) ![Paula Devine](https://www.chamber-business.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/blog%20authors%20avatars/paula-devine-bcc.png?width=100&height=100&name=paula-devine-bcc.png) #### Written by [Paula Devine](https://www.chamber-business.com/blog/author/paula-devine) Paula is Head of Membership and Global Services at Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce. ### More stories... Our Partners ![The Bedford College Group logo [WHITE]](https://www.chamber-business.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Bedford%20College%20Group%20logo%20%5BWHITE%5D.png?width=139&height=81&name=The%20Bedford%20College%20Group%20logo%20%5BWHITE%5D.png) ![LLA Wire](https://www.chamber-business.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LLA%20Wire.png?width=96&height=79&name=LLA%20Wire.png)  - [Terms of Use](https://www.chamber-business.com/terms-of-use) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.chamber-business.com/privacy-policy) - [Customer Charter](https://www.chamber-business.com/customercharter) T: 01582 522448 E: [info@chamber-business.com](mailto:info@chamber-business.com) [**](https://www.twitter.com/BedsChamberInfo) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2451144/profile) [**](https://www.facebook.com/BedfordshireChamber/) [**](https://www.chamber-business.com/blog/bcc-reversing-corporation-tax-not-answer#)