Bira chief executive Andrew Goodacre said University of Southampton research showing high street decline as a top voter concern demonstrated that the government’s decision to support only pubs (and live music venues) was “fundamentally misdirected”. “The study warns Labour will be ‘washed away in a tide of discontent’ unless it tackles high street decline,” said Goodacre. “We have the research, we have the data, and we have the warnings about electoral consequences,” added Goodacre. “What we don’t have is a government willing to support the businesses that could actually reverse high street decline. Supporting pubs whilst excluding retailers is poor policy based on politics rather than what’s good for local economies.”