Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg is sending his Parliamentary team out over the Christmas break to experience at first hand how the recession is affecting local businesses.
MPs will spend time working with a local business while Parliament is in recess to see how they are coping with the economic crisis.
Visits to businesses include:
· Nick Clegg to a metal manufacturing firm in his Sheffield constituency
· Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable to Haymarket publishing
· Liberal Democrat Shadow Business Secretary, John Thurso to meet local fishermen
· Liberal Democrat Small Business Spokesperson, Lorely Burt to a Solihull telecommunications company
Nick Clegg has asked every Liberal Democrat MP to talk with businesses on how the Government can help them and their employees through the recession.
Tens of thousands of businesses across the country will also be sent surveys seeking their views on how firms should be supported during the recession.
Nick Clegg said:
“Businesses up and down the country are struggling.
“Every MP has stories from their area of viable local businesses that are suffering as the recession deepens.
“It’s not enough to sit in Westminster looking at statistics, however shocking they are.
“While Labour scrabbles around launching half-baked proposals and the Tories continue their extraordinary refusal to suggest ways out of the crisis, Liberal Democrat MPs will be out talking to businesspeople about measures that could help them.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. It is clear that the Government must be more innovative in providing support to suffering firms.
“Liberal Democrats have already put forward a full support package for small businesses. When Parliament returns in the New Year, Liberal Democrat MPs will be able to use their experiences to put forward more proposals on how Government can help businesses through the recession.”
Notes
1. Over the Christmas Parliamentary recess, Liberal Democrat MPs will be spending time working with local businesses in their area to experience first hand how they are coping with the recession. Businesses and others affected by the recession that will be visited by MPs include:
· A business park (Willie Rennie MP to Pitreavie Business Park, Dunfermline)
· A banner and flag company (Jo Swinson MP to The Banner & Flag Co. in Bearsden)
· A tartan manufacturer (Michael Moore MP to Lochcarron - tartan manufacturer in Selkirk)
· Bakeries (Lynne Featherstone MP to Dunns bakery, a small independent bakery in Crouch End and Sarah Teather MP to Monsoon bakery in Brent)
· A photography studio (Paul Keetch MP to Keith James Photography)
· A marketing agency (Martin Horwood MP to Tangible Response in Cheltenham)
· A party and gift shop (Norman Baker MP to Balloonatics, a party and gift shop in Newhaven)
· A packaging firm (Annette Brooke MP to Simplipac)
· A brewery (Jeremy Browne MP to Quantock Brewery)
· Farmers (Tim Farron MP will hold a round table discussion with local farmers in Westmorland and Lonsdale)
· A hairdresser (Mark Oaten MP to Toni and Guy)
· An intellectual property firm (Tom Brake MP to KBIG Ltd)
· A circuit board manufacturer (Don Foster MP to Astra Circuits Ltd)
· Pharmacies (Nick Harvey MP to Woolacombe Pharmacy and Phil Willis MP to Boots in Harrogate)
· Sub-sea equipment manufacturing (Danny Alexander MP to MacKellar Engineering)
· A firm marketing holograms (David Howarth MP to Smart Holograms Ltd in Cambridge)
· A building firm (Simon Hughes MP to T Clarke PLC in South London)
· A shopping centre (Mark Hunter MP to Bramhall Village Square)
· A hotel (Mark Oaten MP to The Vine Hotel in Winchester)