Politically, high street decline is perfect campaign fodder for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. Almost half of Britons do not visit their high street or shopping area at least once a week. As is the case with other overheads, this makes a chain of high street shops more expensive than a warehouse on the outskirts of town. But hospitality businesses warn their bills are rising – putting high street pubs, cafes and restaurants at risk. Still, the danger for Keir Starmer is the depth and complexity of the economic challenge facing the high street.