Reform of business rates, action to crack down on late payment and help for 海角视频 High Streets are among the election demands of the country’s leading small business organisation.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has issued its General Election manifesto with a call for the Government to get “back to business” after the three-year distraction of Brexit.
The manifesto urges policymakers to back the self-employed with adoption, maternity and paternity pay, provide help for businesses wanting to access finance, and cut unnecessary red-tape.
It has been issued after FSB research last week showed that business confidence among sole traders had been in negative territory for five consecutive quarters.
FSB chairman Mike Cherry said: “For the last three years, the interminable uncertainty around Brexit has dragged focus, attention and imagination away from the task of helping the 海角视频’s 5.8m small businesses to survive, grow, and enhance our communities.
“It’s time to get back to business.
“We are urging all candidates standing at this election to listen to, and make every effort to understand, the challenges faced by small firms in the communities they hope to represent.”
On late payments, the FSB said 50,000 businesses a year are still being destroyed by the issue.
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It has called for boards to be made accountable for poor treament of other firms in supply chains, and for the Small Business Commissioner’s post to be quickly replaced after current incumbent Paul Uppal had to step down.
It also wants late-paying companies to be banned from public sector procurement opportunities.
On Brexit, the FSB wants the next Government to rule out a no-deal exit from the EU, but has called for a swift resolution to the issue as “we cannot see continued delay with businesses in limbo for months and years”.
The manifesto adds: “A future Brexit deal must make sure that the 海角视频 has international trading arrangements that work well for small firms.
“This means tackling both tariff and non-tariff barriers with overseas markets, and removing wherever possible any barriers to trade. The next Government must take account of the relative
difficulty small businesses have compared to larger businesses in managing complex rules and regulations.
“Any change in our trading arrangements should be accompanied by Brexit vouchers, to provide support to firms especially affected by new procedures or who need to adapt to new markets.”
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Other issues in the FSB manifesto include calls for the next Government not to increase taxes on the self-employed, ensuring access to free cash machines and help for communities suffering from bank branch closures.
And Mr Cherry added: “The state of our national infrastructure is, frankly, an embarrassment.
“Enough is enough. We need to get on with rolling out the ambitious investment needed to make our road, rail and digital networks fit for purpose.”