Original article can be found on the Property Week website here

Being a fixed overhead, business rates don’t reflect the changing fortunes of a company. So when there’s a downturn, the rates bill bites even harder.

However, for government — central and local — this makes business rates attractive. While other tax revenues rise and fall with the economy, business rates provide the public sector with a steady flow of revenue — currently £26bn. So all governments are very wary of tinkering with the system. (more…)