The Fed meets with Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart

The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) met with Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart on the afternoon of Friday, February 20 at the Go Local Business, on Nangreave Road, in her Hazel Grove constituency.

The meeting was hosted by senior Fed member Bhavna Patel, who has operated the business since 2012 and who shared some of her experiences of the changes and challenges now facing small shops like hers.

In particular, they discussed the complexity of the energy market for small businesses which has seen bills rise to many thousands of pounds per year, including for Ms Patel’s business.

In addition, Ms Smart was also told about the Fed’s concerns regarding rising business rate bills, which look set to impact small shops following last November’s Budget.

Whilst the Labour government has opted to provide extra support to deal with rising business rate bills to pubs, it has failed to take commensurate measures that would benefit shops like Ms Patel’s.

Whilst Ms Patel said that theft was less of a concern at her business than for other Fed members, she insisted that more needed to be done to boost Neighbourhood Policing locally.

She added that Trading Standards needed to be better resourced in order to support legitimate retailers like hers, with new regulations like the proposed Tobacco and Vape licence coming into force.

Ms Smart said: “I was delighted to speak with Bhav Patel but it was concerning to learn about the range of challenges faced by small shops at the moment, especially on things like rising business rates bills and higher energy costs.

“I look forward to collaborating with the Fed on these issues where I can in the future.”

Ms Patel said: “It was great to meet Lisa and I was pleased with the interest she took in my business. In particular, we talked about the Fed’s work on rising government and commercial costs for businesses.

“I look forward to speaking with her again – and she and her team are welcome to visit my shop at any time.”