We have made it to December, so it was time this week for me to make the annual pilgrimage to Lymefield Garden Centre in Broadbottom to pick out a Christmas Tree, pick up some gifts and visit the donkeys at Reuban’s Retreat Grotto. This trip is one of my favourite moments of the year as it marks the start of my Christmas season, and I always feel a sense of pride that it also means I am supporting a brilliant local business.

Across the Borough we have so many amazing small businesses and with Small Business Saturday coming this weekend and Christmas shopping to be done, there is no better time to go out and support our local businesses. I’m very pleased that Tameside Councillors also pledged to support this celebration of small businesses at this week’s Full Council meeting.

After 14 years of Conservative government, there is no doubt our local businesses are in much need of this support. Our high streets have been neglected and in places like Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley, Hollingworth and Dukinfield there is a real sense of decline.

Even before Liz Truss’ infamous mini budget left businesses facing higher mortgages and increased costs of borrowing, the failure to invest in our energy security saw energy prices spiral. As a result, over 25,000 local shops, pubs and bank branches shut in 2023 across the country. Shopworkers are also less safe with almost 1,300 incidents of retail crime per day and just 17% of offenders being charged for their crime.

While the Tories presided over crumbling high streets, rising violence towards shopworkers and economic uncertainty, Labour is already delivering change for small businesses. We are supporting businesses to tackle late payments, exempting them from National Insurance Contributions up to £10,500, expanding the money available for public investment and extending schemes that promote private investment.

We are not stopping there, business rates for shops, pubs, and other leisure properties are being cut. Local authorities will be gaining powers to transform long-term empty shops into much needed community spaces. Proper neighbourhood policing, which means more police officers with more powers to ban persistent offenders from town centres.

Labour’s number one mission is to kickstart economic growth and ensuring businesses can thrive is central to that mission. I believe we will only be able to declare mission accomplished when places like Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley, Hollingworth and Dukinfield can feel the benefit. So do your bit to kick start the revival and shop local this Saturday.

Link to Instagram Link to Twitter Link to YouTube Link to Facebook Link to LinkedIn Link to Snapchat Close Fax Website Location Phone Email Calendar Building Search