Small businesses aren’t just the lifeblood of communities like ours across Stalybridge and Hyde, but essential to the UK’s economic success. A Labour government would pull up the shutters for small businesses after 14 years of decline under the Conservatives. Our plan for small business is fully-funded and fully-costed, and includes plans to introduce new legislation and regulatory reforms designed to significantly benefit small businesses. My plan has the backing of business leaders including Dragon’s Den investors Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis, as well as small business owners up and down the country.

Under my leadership we will guarantee small businesses access to banking services on their high street, including safely depositing cash, by changing regulations to accelerate the rollout of banking hubs. We will replace the business rates system, with a new system that will level the playing field between the high street and online giants. We will revitalise Britain’s high streets by tackling anti-social behaviour and shoplifting through the introduction of new town centre police patrols. We will make the UK the best place to start-up and scale-up by unlocking the supply of finance for businesses looking to grow. Will we stamp out late payment of invoices to small businesses, and open up competition to public contracts, giving small businesses the fairer chance they deserve.

Throughout the campaign it has been a pleasure to share this plan with small businesses up and down the country, including All is Good in Penistone and Crumpets Café where I filmed this video. You can read the response from the Federation of Small Business to our plans here.