Leicester West MP Liz Kendall has said that Labour is on the side of small businesses and supporting our high streets during the tenth anniversary of Small Business Saturday.

According to the Federation of Small Businesses, SMEs make up 99% of the business population in the UK and create 16 million jobs. Now in its tenth year, Small Business Saturday celebrates this success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and to support businesses in their communities.

Small businesses are facing huge challenges with their business rates, a struggling economy, soaring energy costs and supply chain issues.

Labour have said they recognise the support that small businesses need not only to survive but to thrive. The party has pledged to cut and eventually entirely scrap business rates, replacing them with a new form of business taxation fit for the 21st Century.

After visiting Crosscut, an award-winning creative video agency based at the Innovation Centre at De-Montfort University, Liz Kendall said:

“It’s great to support this tenth anniversary year of Small Business Saturday. Small businesses in Leicester West do so much to enrich our community, providing jobs, training and driving economic growth.

Innovative businesses like Crosscut have great potential to grow and create more jobs but the last few years have been incredibly tough on small businesses and now they are being clobbered with unfair business rates, supply chain issues and soaring energy costs.

Labour understands the support that small businesses in Leicester need, and this is why Labour will make online giants pay their fair share of tax and introduce an annual business rates revaluation, with savings passed on to small businesses immediately.

We will carry out the biggest overhaul of business taxation in a generation, supporting our small businesses while balancing the playing field between bricks and mortar businesses and online giants.

We will also support the self-employed, who are a crucial part of our pro-worker, pro-business agenda, by extending protections including the right to sick pay.

Local businesses like Crosscut in Leicester West want a reliable partner in government that will listen to their concerns and take real, practical steps to help them thrive. Labour has a plan that will make a real difference for business owners looking to get on, both immediately and in the long-term.”

Duncan MacLeod, Joint Director of Crosscut, said “Crosscut has recovered well since the pandemic, increasing our staff numbers and turnover despite the squeeze on the economy.

“The main challenge facing us is competing with larger tech companies. It would be good to see small businesses based entirely in the UK get some tax-relief towards investing in equipment and staff training as we usually find that the East Midlands is overlooked for any sort of technology support. The film and TV talent of the East Midlands need to be championed more.”

Leicester West MP Liz Kendall has said that Labour is on the side of small businesses and supporting our high streets during the tenth anniversary of Small Business Saturday.    

According to the Federation of Small Businesses, SMEs make up 99% of the business population in the UK and create 16 million jobs.  Now in its tenth year, Small Business Saturday celebrates this success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and to support businesses in their communities.  

 Small businesses are facing huge challenges with their business rates, a struggling economy, soaring energy costs and supply chain issues.  

Labour have said they recognise the support that small businesses need not only to survive but to thrive. The party has pledged to cut and eventually entirely scrap business rates, replacing them with a new form of business taxation fit for the 21st Century.  

After visiting Crosscut, an award-winning creative video agency based at the Innovation Centre at De-Montfort University, Liz Kendall said:  

“It’s great to support this tenth anniversary year of Small Business Saturday. Small businesses in Leicester West do so much to enrich our community, providing jobs, training and driving economic growth. 

Innovative businesses like Crosscut have great potential to grow and create more jobs but the last few years have been incredibly tough on small businesses and now they are being clobbered with unfair business rates, supply chain issues and soaring energy costs.  

Labour understands the support that small businesses in Leicester need, and this is why Labour will make online giants pay their fair share of tax and introduce an annual business rates revaluation, with savings passed on to small businesses immediately. 

We will carry out the biggest overhaul of business taxation in a generation, supporting our small businesses while balancing the playing field between bricks and mortar businesses and online giants.  

We will also support the self-employed, who are a crucial part of our pro-worker, pro-business agenda, by extending protections including the right to sick pay.  

Local businesses like Crosscut in Leicester West want a reliable partner in government that will listen to their concerns and take real, practical steps to help them thrive. Labour has a plan that will make a real difference for business owners looking to get on, both immediately and in the long-term.”   

Duncan MacLeod, Joint Director of Crosscut, said “Crosscut has recovered well since the pandemic, increasing our staff numbers and turnover despite the squeeze on the economy.   

“The main challenge facing us is competing with larger tech companies. It would be good to see small businesses based entirely in the UK get some tax-relief towards investing in equipment and staff training as we usually find that the East Midlands is overlooked for any sort of technology support. The film and TV talent of the East Midlands need to be championed more.”  

Yesterday I was a guest on the Peston Show on ITV. We discussed rail strikes, public sector pay, and Scottish independence. You can see more in the clips.

Yesterday I spoke to both ITV News Central and BBC East Midlands Today about the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. 

My constituents and people across the East Midlands are having to pay the price for the Conservatives crashing the economy, with rising bills, energy prices and mortgages.

Yet all we got yesterday was more of the same from the Tories: more taxes on working people, low investment in public services and not the support businesses need. 

We need a fresh start and a proper plan for growth. You can see Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, set out our alternative here.

You can see the comments I made to ITV Central below, and my comments to the Leicester Mercury here

I was delighted to officially open the new Post Office at the Beaumont Shopping Centre recently, cutting the ribbon alongside postmaster Ricky Ghuman to celebrate the new branch.

As well as selling stationery and stamps, the branch also offers photo printing and everyday banking services, alongside a range of essentials and even cooked food. 

Ricky and his team are located in Unit SU8A, near the entrance of the Beaumont Shopping Centre, and are really excited to be providing key services for the local community

Read more here