Member of Parliament for Newcastle North, Catherine McKinnell, has warned that small businesses can’t keep shouldering extra burdens without further Government support.

Speaking during a debate called by the Labour Party on Reducing Costs for Businesses, Catherine highlighted her visits during Small Businesses Saturday.

Catherine highlighted concerns that small businesses had raised with her, outlining that they had faced “immense challenges” and that “high energy bills and inflation are clearly having a big impact”.

The MP further warned that “It is set to get even worse with the increase in National Insurance we are expecting in a matter of months” and that “the Government cannot expect businesses to keep shouldering extra burdens without putting more support in place”.

Following her intervention, Catherine added:

 “We have some amazing small businesses and independent shops across Newcastle North, but I know that so many have struggled with lockdowns and restrictions, and now see rising inflation and people having less money in their pocket to spend.

  “Many local businesses struggle with unfair business rates and increasing energy costs. Labour is committed to scrapping the current business rates system and replacing it with a fairer alternative, and supporting small businesses with energy costs”.