Main parties make their pitches to audience of small companies

WITH days until the Election, representatives from the three main parties squared up at a hustings at the Imperial War Museum on Friday. Here we report on their short pitches to small firms at the event set up by the Association of Convenience Stores and

I JUST want to say first how important it is that politicians engage with small businesses. I have had the privilege of being a Minister for seven years and have a very good relationship with the FSB and the ACS. We don’t agree on everything, but we, I hope, have always listened. And even when there’s strong agreement there’s always disagreement, there’s been a constructive relationship.

‘And we have done a lot, I think, for small businesses in the last LABOUR’S offer for small business is based upon fairness – the principle at the centre of our campaign. We don’t think it’s fair that major corporations duck out of taxes with sweetheart deals with HMRC while small businesses have to report four times a year. We don’t think it’s fair that small businesses can go bust because a ONE of the first things we have to do, because small businesses are the cornerstone of our economy, whether they’re small and need to grow organically or whether they want to be fast-growers and become the big firms of the future, they need an economy that works for them.

It is outrageous that we have had a revaluation of business rates without overhauling the Victorian system that benefits seven years. We do share the values I think most small businesses have, that to have a successful economy we’ve got to encourage entrepreneurialism, we’ve got to have a dynamic economy. We have got to be in favour of creating wealth, not just redistributing it. DAVID GAUKE Chief Secretary to the Treasury major supplier fails to pay them promptly. And we don’t think it’s fair that small businesses can’t get the finance they need to grow because the big banks won’t lend.

So the next Labour government will build an economy that works for the many small businesses, not for the giant multinationals, will end quarterly reporting and will clamp down on late payments. We’ll set up a national investment bank. Instead of cuts, we’ll invest.’ JOHN McDONNELL Shadow Chancellor global internet retailers and puts a huge burden on small firms. That should never have happened. Many of you raised the issue of skills. We desperately need the apprenticeship levy to fund apprenticeships, not go back in the pocket of the Treasury. We have to touch the issue of your access to a new workforce. BARONESS KRAMER Business spokeswoman