NORTHERN Powerhouse minister Jake Berry has promised the government will tax online retailers to help high street shops.

The Rossendale and Darwen MP was responding in the House of Commons to former Liberal Democrat leader and Blackburn Rovers fan Tim Farron.

The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP told him: "The Government’s plans for a puny two per cent digital tax on mega online firms that avoid paying their fair share is an insult to shops on the high street.

"Will you support higher taxes on tax dodgers, which would raise enough money to slash business rates for our town centres and help to save our high streets?"

Mr Berry replied: "The Government have been clear that online taxation in retail needs to be done as part of an international agreement.

"But we have also been clear that, if we cannot get such an agreement, we will come forward with our own two per cent tax on online retail to ensure that we can continue, as we did in the last Budget, to give relief to those retailing on our high streets.

"This year, we have already slashed a third off the business rates of shops with a rateable value of under £51,000."