Suffolk businesses urged to vote for change to boost the local economy

Successful entrepreneur and Lib Dem candidate for Suffolk Coastal, Jules Ewart, is urging local businesses to vote for her and her party in the forthcoming election for a fairer deal for local companies and a much-needed boost to Suffolk’s economy. 

As someone who runs a successful interior design business with a high-street presence in Saxmundham, Jules knows better than most the challenges faced by independent traders trying to make a living in this rural community. As an MP, Jules will champion rural businesses and make sure their voices are heard in Westminster.

TAX CUTS

The Liberal Democrats will replace business rates with a landowner levy meaning a 23% reduction for businesses in Suffolk Coastal, under new proposals to kick start the high street

Jules said: “Many retailers and small businesses like me are feeling the pressure of unreasonable business rates. In Southwold and Aldeburgh in particular, the exorbitant property values mean that only big chains can afford to pay the rates and so we are losing our independents from the high street.

“Rising business rates, economic uncertainty and the increase of online retail mean we have to do something drastic to save our local shops and businesses from going under.”

The Liberal Democrats plan to breathe new life into the high street by scrapping business rates and replacing them with a landowner levy. Now longer will high-street businesses have to shoulder the burden of a tax that many are struggling to pay.

STOP BREXIT

The Liberal Democrats will stop Brexit if they form a majority government or will press for a second referendum in opposition

Even before it’s happened, Brexit has been bad for business. Last year, business investment fell every quarter for the first time since 2008 and productivity growth has flatlined. Business confidence is at its lowest in seven years.

Jules said: “The truth is this; Brexit will be bad for business. If the current Brexit deal gets pushed through, we face years of uncertainty on top of an increased lack of investment in Suffolk’s economy and enterprise.”

A BOOST FOR SMEs

The Liberal Democrats will improve access to equity capital for growing and medium-sized businesses and prioritise SMEs for hyper-fast broadband connections. 

Jules said: “Dynamic, entrepreneurial businesses are the backbone of local economies and their contribution should be nurtured by a party that cares for SMEs and the self-employed.”

The Lib Dem manifesto has pledged to extend the activities of the British Business Bank so it has a more central role to play in tackling the shortage of equity capital for growing firms. The bank will provide long-term capital for medium-sized businesses. Small businesses will also be first in line for hyper-fast broadband connections.

SIMPLIFYING TAX

The Liberal Democrats will simplify business taxation to reduce the burden on smaller companies 

Jules said: “It’s that time of year again when most of us will be busy getting tax and VAT returns completed ahead of the January deadline. For small businesses, this process is often unnecessarily arduous, so we are pledging to make business taxation more simple by cutting red tape and helping companies to lower their admin costs.”

The Liberal Democrats are also pledging to reform capital-income taxation to make it fairer. The separate Capital Gains Tax-free allowance will be abolished to enable capital gains and salaries to be taxed using only a single allowance.

PRACTICAL HELP FOR START UPS

The Liberal Democrats will introduce a ‘start-up allowance’ to help new businesses get off the ground 

Jules said: “It’s really tough when you launch your own business, and the first few weeks can be make or break. To help Suffolk’s entrepreneurs through those early days, we are offering a lifeline in the form of an allowance to help with living costs to keep Suffolk’s bright sparks in business.”

At the recent CBI conference it was the Liberal Democrats and their leader Jo Swinson who got the best reception of the major party leaders. It’s the Liberal Democrats who are the true party for business.

Jules Ewart has an MBA from the University of East Anglia and is the owner and creative director of Cotton Tree Interiors, based in Saxmundham. For more information about Jules, visit www.julesewart.org.uk

Published and promoted by Keith Dickerson on behalf of Jules Ewart (Liberal Democrats) both at The Cottages, Bridge Street, Kelsale, Saxmundham, IP17 2PB