On Saturday 1st December Labour supported the Small Business Saturday campaign. Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots campaign which highlights small business successes and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities. Labour believes that small businesses are the backbone of our economy.
Labour’s Approach to High Streets and Small Business
Too many businesses on our high streets are being held back by an onslaught of store closures and job losses. Labour will stand up for small British businesses and provide high streets with the support they need. To do this, a Labour government will implement a five point plan to support Britain’s high streets by:
- Banning ATM charges and stopping bank branch and Post Office closures
- Improving local bus services and providing free bus travel for under 25s
- Delivering free public Wi-Fi in town centres
- Establishing a register of landlords of empty shops in each local authority
- Introducing annual revaluations of business rates, ensuring a fair appeals system and reviewing the business rates system to bring it into the 21st century.
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Rebecca Long-Bailey, said “Labour’s five point plan, from our reform of business rates to our empty shops register, will rejuvenate the high street.”
Policy Development
Following Small Business Saturday Labour is asking for your ideas on how to support small British businesses on our high streets. Whether you are a small business owner, supply chain customer or local community member we want to hear your thoughts on how a Labour government can support our high streets.
Ideas can be submitted to Labour’s policy making process through the Labour Policy Forum, Labour’s online home of policy development and ideas. More information on how to make a submission can be found here: https://www.policyforum.labour.org.uk/about
To find out more about Small Business Saturday UK visit: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/
