The British Retail Consortium’s manifesto, entitled A Vision for the UK Retail Industry, sets out three key priorities the trade organisation believes the next government should prioritise to support the retail sector.

It calls for the next government to relieve the burden of business rates by “scrapping ‘downwards transition’ which takes £1.3bn from retailers every five years”, reform elements of the apprenticeship levy to “allow greater flexibility to spend on any accredited training” and to act on retail crime by making explicit reference to it in police and crime commissioners’ plans.

The manifesto also says the sector needs urgent action on a childhood obesity strategy and on Brexit, to “ensure a fair deal for consumers” – which includes prioritising “tariff-free trade with EU partners” and frictionless trade.