The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the British Property Federation (BPF) had joined forces to urge the government to pay up to 50% of commercial rents in a bid to help high street operators and their landlords survive the health crisis. 

Those plans were designed to help pay for the estimated £3bn of rent owed to landlords during the six months to September. 

But as fears grow that Westminster will reject calls to help cover those rent arrears, the BRC has instead called for an extension to the moratorium on landlords taking action against retailers that do not pay rent.