Small and medium sized businesses are integral to local prosperity and the fabric of communities. It is all too easy for political parties to think of business as homogenous – we wouldn’t do that with a community and the same diversity applies to business. Running my own small business gave me a first-hand taste of the challenges faced. There is no substitute for doing it yourself to know how it feels and what support businesses need. The pandemic has hit local businesses hard after years of being neglected by the Tories in government. Thankfully, small businesses have a real champion with SME4Labour – who perform a vital role in integrating local business into the rich tapestry of our Labour movement and celebrating their work. I’m also proud that Labour are pledging to back the next generation of British entrepreneurs, with the creation of 100,000 new businesses across Britain in the first term of a Labour government.
David Evans
General Secretary of the Labour Party