Yesterday in Parliament I spoke up for small businesses here in Exmouth and Exeter East.
Local independent retailers are facing steep business rates increases that are removing access to relief and putting real pressure on their monthly costs. For many, this is making it harder and harder to keep the doors open.
These are the shops that give our high streets their character and provide local jobs. They should be supported to thrive, not pushed to the brink by sudden cost increases.
I challenged the Minister on whether this approach is really compatible with backing small retailers, and I will keep pressing the case for a fairer system that works for our local high streets.
