The Fed meets Sir Gavin Williamson MP in Staffordshire

Former Government Minister and Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge MP Sir Gavin Williamson met with Narinder Randhawa at his business in Great Haywood in Staffordshire on Friday 30th January, where they discussed concerns about theft, business rates and other rising costs.

Mr Randhawa spoke about his decades of experience in retail, including 40-years as a Fed member, including serving as National President between 2021-2022 and continued service at a national level for the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed).

However, he was frank about the challenges caused by rising costs, including the recent budget which the Government failed to support small retailers with relief from rising business rate bills.

Sir Gavin had recently raised the matter of rising Business rate bills in Parliament, brought about by the three-yearly valuation rise, loss in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief and also a disappointing cut of the multiplier paid by small retailers. He said: “It was a really useful and wide-ranging discussion with Narinder and Ajay Singh who runs the business with him. We discussed the pressure caused by rising rate bills, as well as other pressures like the National Insurance Contribution rise which took effect last year as well as new regulations coming down the line from the Employment Rights Bill”.

“Clearly the shop is at the heart of the community in Great Haywood and offers a range of vital services from its Post Office, to a fully range of convenience products – but it is clear that for shops like this to survive in the future the Government has more to do. I will continue to work with the Fed as an opposition MP to ensure the concerns of their members like Narinder and Ajay are heard in Parliament.”

Mr Randhawa said: “I was pleased to meet Sir Gavin Williamson and discuss very frankly how worrying the business environment is. My business has been hit by rising costs and occasional incidents of retail crime, causing thousands of pounds of damage. I am glad Sir Gavin listened – I look forward to his support in the future.”