Greens Call To Back Small Businesses To Make The Most Of A Fairer, Greener Economy

1 December 2023

Bath and North East Somerset Green Party is calling on government to offer a Small Business Saturday support package to help local firms thrive in their green transition. 

Dom Tristram, Green Party MP candidate for Bath, said: 

“I visit independent businesses and social enterprises all around Bath and NE Somerset, and so many tell me that they want to make a success of becoming more sustainable. 

“But they need government to get behind them and offer the right support. 

“We need a competitively fair transition to net zero that helps rather than hinders the small and independent businesses that bring so much benefit to our local community. 

“That’s why, this Small Business Saturday, we are calling for government to act and help small businesses thrive in their green transition.”

 

Edmund Cannon, Green Party MP candidate for NE Somerset and Hanham, said:

“The Green Party’s alternative Autumn Statement identified £30 billion that could be raised by making the super-rich pay a little more tax. Just £3 billion of that could be used to double funding for Green Transition Grants – to help small businesses prepare for and make the most of the opportunities of greening the economy.  

“From assisting small businesses to decarbonise their transport needs, to reforming VAT and suspending Covid repayments, there is much more the government should be doing. 

“Small and independent businesses and enterprises are the heart of our local community. The Green Party has long been the party of small business, and we want to see them thrive.” 

 

This Small Business Saturday the Green Party are calling for: 

1. An additional £3 billion in Green Transition Grants for small businesses to help them prepare for and take advantage of the opportunities offered by greening the economy
2. Assistance for small businesses to decarbonise their transport needs. Independent traders and tradespeople need access to electric vans and other low carbon transport solutions on the same terms as large companies.
3. Support for small businesses to improve employee wellbeing. Measures should include exempting all childcare providers in England from business rates.
4. Reform of VAT to support small businesses and suspension of Covid repayments. The government must reform our VAT system so that it differentially supports smaller shops and businesses compared to larger and online businesses. Likewise, there should be an immediate suspension of Covid loan repayments to provide much needed relief for businesses.

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