Following a successful launch in Dalston over the summer, Hackney Conservatives’ campaign to support our local shops continued in December in Hackney Central.

 Simon Nayyar (pictured middle in the team photo), Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hackney South & Shoreditch and Darren Caplan (second from right), candidate for Hackney North & Stoke Newington, joined local activists and shoppers to highlight the importance of local shops to our community, and the tough time they are having through the recession.

The stall was set up over two locations, outside the Hackney Empire on Mare Street and on Amhurst Road high street with a petition calling on the Government to introduce a raft of measures that would give  immediate, practical assistance to small and medium-sized businesses right across the borough. Hackney Conservatives have now collected almost 150 signatures in support of local shops.

 Commenting on the campaign, Simon Nayyar said: “When we launched the campaign in Dalston over the summer, we were amazed at the positive response shown by shoppers – and I’m delighted to say that this  was repeated on Mare Street and Amhurst Road. The message is clear: the community values the services provided by local shops, and the Government needs to do more to ensure their survival. Once our local shops start to disappear there’s no guarantee they will come back – it really has become a case of use it or lose it!”

 Darren Caplan said: “Small and medium-sized businesses make up the vast majority of businesses here in Hackney: they are the main provider of jobs and the engine room of the local economy. Talking to local people, it’s very clear that they feel local shops are not just places to buy goods and services, though; they are at the very heart of our high streets and communities, and give the places we live a unique sense of character.  We will continue to campaign hard to support local businesses – and the customers that use them – as much as possible.”

Information about the petition

The petition calls on the Government to introduce a raft of measures that will give immediate, practical assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises. Measures include:

•  The establishment of a National Loan Guarantee Scheme, which would see the Government underwrite £50 billion worth of loans to business;
• Cutting small companies’ corporation tax rate from 22p to 20p; 
• Cutting National Insurance Contributions by one penny in the pound for small companies with less than five employees;
• Allowing small and medium sized enterprises to defer their VAT bill for up to six months, paying only the standard 7.5% rate of interest; and 
• A commitment to automatically pay the Small Business Rate Relief to eligible companies, which could save them up to £1,100 a year.

If you would like to add your name to the petition, please email action@hackneyconservatives.com, with your name and address.

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