Spring statement must support local businesses

Local Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart has called on the Chancellor to deliver a Spring Statement that will “save our small businesses” on Wednesday. 

The MP met with owners of local businesses recently to discuss a range of issues, and was told that the impending hike in employers’ national insurance was going to have a massive financial impact on their ability to grow their staff – which had already been hit by a series of financial impacts such as the increase in energy prices.

Lisa Smart said it would be utterly unacceptable for the Chancellor to risk businesses “going to the wall” because of this jobs tax and called on Rachel Reeves to scrap the increase at the Spring Statement.

She also called on the Chancellor to overhaul the business rates system which currently hits businesses really hard.

Lisa Smart MP said: “I have regularly been approached by local businesses which are hit hard by business rates, and it is particularly galling when you see one company being treated differently by the system, and it is clearly unfair.

“Much loved businesses that provide great services for our communities now risk going to the wall if they are hammered again following years of Conservative economic vandalism.

“The Government must start by scrapping this damaging tax on jobs, and overhauling business rates to allow our local businesses to thrive.”