New laws giving councils the power to block fake barber and vape shops opening on the high street will be fast-tracked in a bid to see off the threat from Nigel Farage’s Reform.

Sir Keir Starmer will also unveil new plans on Thursday to give councils greater powers to seize boarded-up shops and regenerate derelict sites , as well as giving communities a greater say over what kind of shops open on their high streets.

Communities will also be given new rights to save local pubs and libraries under new right-to-buy schemes. New Feature

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The plans are part of the latest attempts by the Government to counter Reform UK’s efforts to use the demise of local high streets as a campaigning tool.

The right-wing party has highlighted the rise

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