Hospitality firms urgently need clarity from Sunak about £2.5bn of unpaid rent

Giving landlords and tenants six months to work out a deal on arrears could stop an wave of bankruptcies in the sector

If it really is a case of “one more heave” on vaccinations before restrictions on the hospitality sector can be eased, what’s the best way to ensure the country’s pubs, restaurants and nightclubs survive to take a shot at recovery?

The two most important measures may be these. First, an extension of six months to the ban on landlords evicting tenants. Second, a government-backed framework for the two sides to share the accumulated pain of unpaid rents.

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