Andrew Griffith has taken aim at Labour for failing to have a "backbone" to cut welfare spending.

The Shadow Secretary of State clashed with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy during today's Prime Minister's Questions when he was pushed on the Government's failure to scrap business rates.

Mr Griffith said: "His MPs are already banned from pubs - where next? Shops? Restaurants? Hair salons?... They should back our plan to scrap business rates. But they haven't got the backbone to cut welfare to pay for it.

"And it's not just business rates. Under them the cost of hiring is up."

He asked Mr Lammy to admit how much more expensive it now costs to hire a 21 year old under Labour.

Mr Lammy hit back that the Tories by saying they left a "shameful legacy" with one in eight young people not earning or in training.

Around 1,000 pubs had banned Labour politicians from their premises in protest at the prospect of increased costs both from the revaluation and the withdrawal of Covid-era support.

Rachel Reeves made a partial U-turn on support for pubs on Tuesday.

The Treasury caved to fury by announcing pubs and music venues will get 15% off their business rates bills from April as part of a fresh support package.

But industry bosses from hotels, restaurants and cafes slammed the Government because they will not receive extra help despite their own concerns over soaring tax bills.

Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson told the Commons that the property tax bills for pubs and music venues in England will be reduced by 15% in 2026/27 and then be “frozen in real terms” for the next two years.

He added that the support will be worth £1,650 for the average pub next year.