Prospective MP, Steve Brine has signed up to the Federation of Small Business's Keep Trade Local campaign.
The organisation has launched its own six point manifesto as part of a ‘grassroots’ campaign designed to encourage people to help save local communities and local businesses. Conservative leader, David Cameron endorsed the campaign at its rally in Westminster earlier this year.
Commenting, Steve said: “Last year I ran a hugely successful ‘keep it local’ competition in Winchester which asked people to nominate their favourite independent local retailer. That exercise showed the great affection local people have for stores such as Winchester News or D&G Hardware in town and many other small businesses and pubs in our surrounding villages. The eventual winner, Little Sanctuary of Jewry Street, turned out hundred of entries from a customer base that clearly valued the ‘spiritual coffee shop’ and they wanted to tell everyone else about it!
“Small businesses are not just part of the local community, they are the local community because very often they are the glue that binds it all together. Figures from the FSB suggest 2000 local shops are closing each year across the UK and around 27 pubs a week in a trend that is accelerating. Without measures to give small, independent business a fighting chance, many more of our communities could soon be without local services.
"We are very lucky in Winchester to have good independent local shops, which offer a wide variety of choice with a unique flavour, and some of the best pubs on the planet. But we could very soon wake up to a future of nothing but mobile phone shops and national chains if we don’t fight for them and use them."
You can sign the Keep Trade Local petition here.
You can view the FSB ‘manifesto’ here.
Steve is urging local businesses to contact the FSB and sign up to their campaign.
Steve is pictured above at the Cricketers Inn, Easton
