Small businesses need more support says MP

Yesterday Shadow Business Secretary, John Denham, joined local MP Kerry McCarthy to meet with small business owners and trader’s to discuss how the Government and Local Council’s can help support small businesses. John Denham’s visit to Bristol comes after it was revealed last week that Bristol has the most number of vacant business premises in the South West, with more than one in five shops unoccupied.

Kerry and John Denham met with independent business owners who expressed their concern that small businesses were not receiving enough from the local council and that large chains and supermarkets were squeezing them out of the market. Moreover, local business owners have stated that the banks aren’t lending, which is affecting their ability to grow their businesses and employ more people.

Following the meeting, Kerry said: “The stark message coming from local traders is that the banks aren’t lending, independent firms are struggling to compete against larger chains and supermarkets, and that the Local Council isn’t doing enough to help smaller businesses grow. All of this has to change. As ordinary people struggle to make ends meet, small businesses are finding it particularly tough to survive on many of our high streets. A reduction in rate of VAT could help ease the pressure people are feeling, and would benefit many small businesses as we approach the commercially important Christmas period.”

Recently, Labour has unveiled a four point plan to regenerate Britain’s high streets:

1. Temporary cut VAT from 20% to 17.5, giving struggling retailers a boost and putting £450 back into each family’s pocket.

2. Introduce a retail diversity planning clause in planning law, putting communities in charge of the future of their local high streets. Local people and local retailers would have a say on any retail plans for their area.

3. Create a ‘competition test’ in the planning system, leading to greater choice and lower prices for shoppers. The test would ensure a level playing field between small and large shops.

4. Reintroduce Labour’s empty shops initiative, enabling councils to pursue innovative uses for empty shops and reinvigorate high-streets, such as using vacant units for cultural, community or learning services, rather than leaving tem empty.

Kerry is backing a local campaign to support and promote Bristol’s independent traders, and will continue to urge the Government to more to protect the diversity of Britain’s high streets.