Five Key Needs

Five key asks from small businesses and self-employed to local parliamentary candidates

The Kent economy is bolstered by 141,800 self-employed people and 77,955 small and micro businesses. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has published its own manifesto asking Kent candidates to back these small businesses and entrepreneurs if elected on 8 June. The FSB manifesto focuses on five key themes: 

1.    Securing a pro-business Brexit

2.    Creating a level playing field

3.    Improving working lives

4.    Building opportunity in every area in the UK

5.    Driving down the costs of doing business.

FSB’s local self-employed members are particularly concerned about the prospect for being singled out for tax rises, the possibility of which has been a source of recent controversy.

David Milham, FSB Steering Group member, said: “This election is incredibly important for Kent small businesses and the self-employed. Our manifesto includes clear asks about how businesses can be confident in Brexit, how we can level the playing field to give a fair chance to small businesses, and how Government should protect the self-employed from being singled-out for tax grabs. We want a level playing field in markets like insurance and on pensions for the self-employed who often get a raw deal, missing out on Government benefits such as proper maternity pay and the security of employed work. The next Kent MPs should address this and not repeat the mistake of singling out the self-employed for tax rises.

“Following the stress of the business rates changes, whoever’s elected will need to make sure they protect our high streets and town centres, improving both the rates system and taking action to help parking and traffic locally.”

Deborah Turner, FSB Kent Champion for Women in Business says: “In Kent we’re seeing increasing numbers of people – noticeably women and under 25s – embracing the flexibility and opportunities that self-employment offers. The next Government must avoid any tax grab on these hard-workers if we want to see this entrepreneurial spirit continue.”

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