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Action on rates for small business NOW!

Adam Price takes me to task in his latest blog, albeit briefly, over business rates, which I have featured on this blog.

I have enormous respect for Adam's views but on this one he is way off the mark.

His own party raised this issue in an Assembly debate in June 2008 before they entered into talks with Labour and to now defend Labour's approach to business rates is sheer hypocrisy, regardless of the 'realities of Government'.

Indeed, one could argue that the business environment has worsened since last year and the current policy over business rates clearly just isn't good enough, especially as compared to England and Scotland.

If Labour do not wish to help small business in wales, then it is up to Plaid Cymru to press their case within the Assembly Government.

Welsh businesses are facing increasing financial difficulties, especially within the tourism industry. You only have to read this article to see the concerns of the industry in North Wales.

Bringing in business rates cuts in the future is pointless if an increasing number of businesses are no longer there to take advantage of those cuts.

More importantly, the whole point of devolution is to develop different (and positive) policies in Wales. However, the least that business should expect is that we gain a competitive advantage, not disadvantage, relative to England and Wales.

Unfortunately, small businesses have been let down yet again.

Comments

Anonymous said…
you make good points but what stops this post becoming just another part of the continuous white noise that the Welsh Assembly Government ignores about Business and Economic issues with regard to Wales.

If they were serious about business rates surely they would have done something bolder like what you are proposing rather than the plans they laid out.
June 01, 2008 2:19 pm
Anonymous said…
Plaid's motto is " Do as I say - Not as I do " They posted that business rates would be halved in their pre election document if they got in. Well they are in and what has happened....nothing. Strange that publicly funded theaters are also treated differently in Gwynedd by Plaid. Neuadd Dwyfor in Pwllheli pays rates but Galeri in Caernarfon is exempt. They should pay 37K per year but have been let off....why ?
If small local venues have to pay why is the Galeri exempt ? Always double standards with Plaid.
June 02, 2008 1:36 am
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