On a visit to Great Linford Local Centre yesterday, Treasury Minister Dan Tomlinson MP joined Chris Curtis MP, Emily Darlington MP, Callum Anderson MP and Cllr. Pete Marland in supporting pro-growth tax reform for small businesses.
This was following a report published by the Treasury on the 11th September calling for “cliff-edge” spikes in business rates for small businesses to be reviewed. Having committed to reforming business rates in Labour’s winning election manifesto last July, the Chancellor outlined a blueprint for tax reform to incentivise small businesses to grow and expand.
Under the previous Government, a small business looking to open a second location would face losing all access to Small Business Rates Relief - and policies like this have discouraged growth and failed to reward working people. Together with the 40% cut in business rates for a quarter of a million shops, pubs and restaurants across the country that have already been put in place, this Government is committed to unlocking growth in the economy and build up small businesses.
Chris Curtis, Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes North, said… “Small businesses are the beating heart of our communities in Milton Keynes, and it was very special to be able to highlight that to the Treasury Minister in Great Linford, where I grew up. This Government is serious about growth, and these pro-growth tax reforms will help ensure small businesses can survive and thrive in our city and across the country”.
Emily Darlington, Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes Central, said… “Milton Keynes is recognised across the country as one of the best places to set up your own business, and our entrepreneurial spirit is central to who we are – but too many small businesses find themselves hitting a ceiling before they’ve reached their potential. Eliminating “cliff-edges” when it comes to business rates will help them grow, and that benefits us all”.
Callum Anderson, Member of Parliament for Buckingham and Bletchley, said… “"Small businesses are more than the bedrock of our economy, they are the bedrock of the places we live. In Bletchley, I’ve launched an Investment Taskforce to ensure local businesses aren’t just surviving, but scaling up and creating new jobs. These reforms will support that mission by removing barriers that have held back too many local entrepreneurs for too long. Our economy isn’t broken, but it is stuck – and I’m proud of the actions our Labour government is taking to turn things around”.
Cllr. Pete Marland, Leader of Milton Keynes City Council, said… “Milton Keynes has always been a place where small businesses can take an idea and turn it into something great, whether that’s an independent café in Stony Stratford, a family-run shop in Bletchley, or a start-up tech business in Central Milton Keynes. But too often, outdated rules on business rates put restrictions on their ambitions. It is vital local businesses have the chance to grow, create more jobs for residents, and keep our high streets and local centres thriving.”
