Small Business Saturday - Brexit uncertainty is hitting our high streets.

5 DAYS TO STOP BREXIT AND SECURE A BRIGHTER FUTURE

Liberal Democrats have unveiled a series of measures to reverse a decline in high streets and boost small businesses

Figures from the ONS show that 978,285 businesses closed their doors between 2016-2018.

Analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed Brexit uncertainty under the Conservatives is hitting our high streets as almost one million businesses in the UK have closed in the past three years.This increase in business closures is almost a third (28%) compared to the 765,000 businesses that closed in the three previous years.

• The Federation of Small Businesses has warned that a no deal Brexit, which Boris Johnson has repeatedly refused to rule out, would mean more damage to firms.
• Firms are also being held back by the Conservative government's failure to reform business rates, and by new taxes on the self-employed that business groups have described as "disastrous".

The Liberal Democrats would boost small businesses by:

• Scrapping business rates and replacing them with a new land value tax on landlords
• Reviewing taxes to help support the self-employed
• Toughening the prompt payment code to ensure small businesses are paid on time
• Expanding the Future High Streets Fund to support the redevelopment of more town centres and high streets
• Creating a new Start-Up Allowance, to support business owners with their living costs in the crucial first few weeks of starting a business
• Reforming the apprenticeship levy by creating a wider "Skills and Training Levy" that targets 25% of the funds into areas with the greatest skills needs

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