Held at the Park Lane Sheraton Hotel in Piccadilly, the event was attended by over 400 guest. This included over 60 Labour MPs and peers, including several members of the shadow cabinet. They were joined by mayors, local councillors and other members of the Labour family, alongside trade union leaders and distinguished figures from the business community.
This included over 60 Labour MPs and peers, including several members of the shadow cabinet. They were joined by mayors, local councillors and other members of the Labour family, alongside trade union leaders and distinguished figures from the business community.
The evening’s keynote speech was delivered by Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Ms. Long-Bailey emphasised the Labour Party’s commitment to building an economy that works for all, before presenting the award for Shadow Cabinet Member of the Year to Angela Rayner MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education.
Other speakers included Bill Esterson MP, Shadow Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy; Iain McNicol, General Secretary of the Labour Party; Stephen Kinnock MP; and Tim Roache, General Secretary of the GMB; all of whom praised SME4Labour’s work in promoting the interests of small and medium sized enterprises and the self employed.
Although not in attendance, Jeremy Corbyn. Leader of the Labour Party, sent this message of support:“SME4Labour provides small businesses with a way to have their voices heard, which are too often drowned out by larger companies and corporations. I’d like to thank and congratulate my colleagues in the SME4Labour team for their contribution to an economic policy that works for the many, not the few.”
Speaking at the awards, Ibrahim Dogus, Co-Chairman of SME4Labour, said:
“When we win, SMEs and the self-employed will be at the heart of Labour’s pro-gramme, because they mean so much to the future prosperity of the country. I am delighted that SME4Labour is playing its part. We have exciting plans for next year, and I hope you will join with us.”
The event was kindly sponsored by First Premier, Bira London, Cobra Beer and Cheviot Capital.
Presenters of the event were Cllr Aysha Raza of London Borough of Ealing and Author, NHS Campaigner and Disability Spokesperson Jos Bell.
Entertainment was provided by musician Paul Stanworth, accompanied by Andrew Hyldon, and singer Hadis Ayoubi, ac-companied by her ban
