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Struggling without a job
FOR THE last few months not a week has gone by when I haven't received a letter or email from someone who is struggling because they now find themselves without a job.
I've also become used to hearing about previously thriving small and medium sized businesses going to the wall because of cash flow problems when their bank calls in their overdraft or hikes up their interest rate.
In short, we are all aware that individuals and businesses are suffering. Well, I say we are all aware – it seems that the Government is not.
Why do I say that? Well, it was the only conclusion I could come to when I heard that the Government intends to push ahead with its plans to increase business rates on local firms.
The Government is introducing a new law – the Business Rates Supplement Bill – which will allow town halls to increase business rates on local firms by levying a 'supplementary' rate on top of current bills. This, I might add, comes at a time when business rates are already due to rise by a painful five per cent in April.
There are 3,877 premises in the Horsham district which currently pay business rates. The average bill in 2008-09 was 9,293, raising a total of 36m a year in tax from local firms – which is handed over to Whitehall.
Due to the impending five per cent rise, business rate bills in Horsham will hit an average of 9,758 from April. If a supplementary business rate was imposed on top, this could push the average bill on local firms to a record 10,177.
According to the Government, supplementary business rates could increase tax revenue by up to 600m a year if levied by every local authority and that begs the question, how many businesses will be finished by yet another demand on their coffers?
Local firms are struggling – there's no two ways about it and what angers me is that this is just an opportunity for the ever-more desperate Government to raise taxes by stealth.
Readers will know that I try to visit local businesses as often as I can – to discuss local and national issues that affect the business community.
To add to that, as a member of the Shadow Cabinet I often visit companies of varying sizes around the country – today, Friday, for example, I'm meeting the owner of a florists in Northampton.
To be honest, it's the best way to understand the issues that are really affecting people – so, if any readers own a business situated in my Horsham parliamentary constituency and would like me to visit, I'd be delighted to hear from you.
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Weather for Horsham
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Thunderstorm
Temperature: 14 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
