New minister for High Streets announced

When Mark Prisk was removed from his position of minister

for high streets, a slew of concerns and comments were raised. Just six months after setting up the future high street forum, an action group set up to help revive struggling retailers, Prisk was let go. The government and British business officials initially set up the forum as a response to Mary Portas’s evaluation of the condition of the high streets, singling out Prisk to lead the group. His abrupt and unexpected dismissal stirred up a sense of unease from numerous financial leaders throughout the UK, who feel that PM David Cameron is failing to secure a stable future for UK town and city centers. Lewis is not the first man to leave the high street forum. Last August, Alex Gourlay, chairmen and co-chief executive of health and beauty at Alliance Boots, left the high street group on his own accord to join up with US retailer Walgreens.

In response to Prisk’s dismissal, the Government has announced that Brandon Lewis has been chosen to take over as minister for high streets. In September 2012, he was appointed parliamentary undersecretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government. Now he is responsible for looking after the high streets, town centers and markets. Businessman Bill Grimsey, stated that the new ministers first task should be to push for an’ urgent review of business rates and the immediate reinstatement of the revaluation,’ in order to demonstrate that the Government is working hard to get the high street policy back on top. Lewis has been a main motivator in the business rate debate and recommended that the revaluation be deferred until 2017, raising even more concerns from individuals in the retail industry. In a recent interview, Grimsey also added that the “high street policy needs some fresh impetus, as it’s in danger of falling off the Government agenda.” To help Lewis cope with his new set of tasks, the Government has requested that Kris Hopkins, conservative MP for Keighley in West Yorkshire, join the Department of Communities and Local Government and take over the role of undersecretary of state.