Tackling Scotland's Business Rates Crisis
About this episode
This episode addresses the crisis in Scotland's business rates system, featuring discussions with influential business leaders about its impact on growth and investment.
Air Date: March 3rd, 2026 Hosts: Lord Willie Haughey and Sir Tom Hunter Scotland’s business community is sounding the alarm—and this episode puts the crisis front and centre. Lord Haughey and Sir Tom are joined by some of the country’s most influential business leaders to confront what many are calling a broken, unfair and unaccountable business rates system. From eye‑watering 400–500% rate hikes, to stories of bank accounts frozen, investments punished, and jobs put at risk, this is a raw, no‑nonsense conversation about how Scotland’s current approach to non‑domestic rates is choking growth, killing confidence, and threatening the future of high streets and hospitality. The panel pulls no punches, laying out shocking real‑world examples, exposing a democratic deficit in the assessor system, and offering clear, practical solutions—including freezes, reform, and radical alternatives. If you care about jobs, investment, or the future of Scottish business, this is an episode you can’t ignore. Episode Highlights Eye‑watering rate hikes exposed – real examples of 400–500% increases in business rates, threatening otherwise successful businesses. Investment punished, not rewarded –…
More episodes of The Go Radio Business Show with Hunter & Haughey. Scotland’s Business Podcast.
- Hunter and Haughey Return: The Big Questions Facing Scotland's Economy
- Economic Debate in Focus: Are Policymakers Listening?
- From Skills Gaps to AI Hype: The Reality Behind Scotland’s Growth
- Scaling Scotland: Opportunity vs Reality
- Vision vs Execution: Can Scotland Deliver?
- Build Wealth or Fall Behind
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Go Radio Business Show with Hunter & Haughey. Scotland’s Business Podcast. podcast page.