As the General Election draws near, both major parties will hope to have done enough to woo a key set of voters: small business owners.
With just days until the country goes to the polls, the PA news agency spoke to five small business owners to see which issues are most important to them – and what could yet sway their vote.Emma Robson runs Stort Valley Gifting, employing a handful of people to assemble personalised hampers to sell to companies. The packages often include bottles of gin, high-end olive oil, locally sourced honey and personalised chocolate bars.
She is encouraged by Labour’s pledge to reform the tax, but less so about the lack of detail on how it will do it. “If you’re going to vote for policies like that, you need to look at how it’s going to impact you.” Mr Wicks questions whether the Conservatives have lived up to their billing as the “natural party of small business”.
“I’m p***** off with the Tories and I don’t want the Government any longer,” he says. “But I really fear what is coming in their place.”Wasim Riley and his partner run Afrikana, a restaurant business based in Manchester that employs about 20 people. Mr Riley says a reduction in the rate of VAT would be welcome, but that he does not believe the Conservatives would help the hospitality industry if re-elected.
She says business has suffered from companies working from home since the pandemic, which has depleted the office segment of her trade. But despite Labour’s promises for small businesses, Ms Brown says she is too sceptical of the party to vote for them.