{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/763988.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":763988,"attributes":{"action":"Create a legal classification to protect independent businesses in law","background":"Independent businesses cannot compete in a market transformed by online giants, yet policy burdens them as if nothing has changed. They don't just create jobs; they provide social cohesion, community identity and shared spaces no algorithm can replace. The Government must recognise this and act.","additional_details":"1. Create a protected legal classification for independent, place-based businesses so policy can differentiate them from chains and online operators. 2. Immediately reduce and reform business rates for independents to reflect the reality of a market fundamentally changed by online retail. 3. Introduce a reduced VAT rate of 10% for qualifying independent hospitality, retail and leisure businesses.","committee_note":null,"state":"open","signature_count":19,"created_at":"2026-03-11T14:22:40.898Z","updated_at":"2026-04-28T05:00:20.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-04-10T10:51:03.548Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-03-11T16:56:50.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Greg Barden","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"BT","name":"Department for Business and Trade","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-and-trade"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":19}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Bath","ons_code":"E14001080","mp":"Wera Hobhouse MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Brentwood and Ongar","ons_code":"E14001125","mp":"Alex Burghart MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Glastonbury and Somerton","ons_code":"E14001247","mp":"Sarah Dyke MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Harrogate and Knaresborough","ons_code":"E14001269","mp":"Tom Gordon MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Mid Buckinghamshire","ons_code":"E14001360","mp":"Greg Smith MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Newton Abbot","ons_code":"E14001381","mp":"Martin Wrigley MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Poole","ons_code":"E14001429","mp":"Neil Duncan-Jordan MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Rochester and Strood","ons_code":"E14001447","mp":"Lauren Edwards MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Wells and Mendip Hills","ons_code":"E14001572","mp":"Tessa Munt MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Widnes and Halewood","ons_code":"E14001584","mp":"Derek Twigg MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Yeovil","ons_code":"E14001603","mp":"Adam Dance MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Caerfyrddin","ons_code":"W07000087","mp":"Ann Davies MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Cardiff North","ons_code":"W07000090","mp":"Anna McMorrin MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare","ons_code":"W07000099","mp":"Gerald Jones MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Monmouthshire","ons_code":"W07000101","mp":"Catherine Fookes MP","signature_count":3}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":2},{"name":"Yorkshire and The Humber","ons_code":"D","signature_count":1},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":1},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":2},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":6},{"name":"Wales","ons_code":"L","signature_count":7}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}