Small is beautiful
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) do a good job at standing up for the interests of SMEs but it is galling that larger companies like Amazon and Starbucks have used their corporate muscle to get away with paying low tax bills while Frasers is entering into negotiations to reduce its rental payments on high streets across the UK.
But it is small businesses like The Black Poppy who would quickly find HMRC knocking at the door in the event of a missed payment and can suddenly find themselves in receipt of an ultimatum from the local council: accept a rent increase or close.
Most people like to see small independent operators on their high street, but it is crucial that we remember if we want to keep them, we have to use them.
Online shopping may be convenient, but no one wants to live in a ghost town with no high street.
If we value our town centres and our local businesses, we need to take action to help them flourish.
That is part of the reason I have been campaigning against bank closures and for the protection of free-to-use ATMs; we need more services to draw people into local high streets, not fewer.
There is no single solution to this problem, but any approach to tackle decline in our town centres must be built around the needs of the small businesses operating in them.
That is why next week I will be meeting with the FSB to talk about what more can be done to help SMEs and I will also be writing to small businesses in Rutherglen and Hamilton West seeking their views about local challenges and opportunities.
We need to work together, so if you run a small business or have ideas about how to help, please get in touch with my office.
If we value our town centres and our local businesses, we need to take action to help them flourish