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Ed Miliband depicts Labour as champion of small businesses Ed Miliband depicts Labour as champion of small businesses
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Ed Miliband will depict Labour as "the party of small business and enterprise" on Saturday , arguing that his plans to address the cost of living crisis will benefit entrepreneurs as well as householders.Ed Miliband will depict Labour as "the party of small business and enterprise" on Saturday , arguing that his plans to address the cost of living crisis will benefit entrepreneurs as well as householders.
The Labour leader will use an event in south London to highlight party proposals that could help small businesses, buoyed by an analysis on Friday from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that backs Labour's claims that people will be worse off in 2015 than they were in 2010, and by initial polling suggesting that people think George Osborne's autumn statement will not benefit them.The Labour leader will use an event in south London to highlight party proposals that could help small businesses, buoyed by an analysis on Friday from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that backs Labour's claims that people will be worse off in 2015 than they were in 2010, and by initial polling suggesting that people think George Osborne's autumn statement will not benefit them.
Labour's plan to freeze energy bills has generally been presented as a measure to help householders, but Miliband will argue that it could also save the typical small business £5,000 a year.Labour's plan to freeze energy bills has generally been presented as a measure to help householders, but Miliband will argue that it could also save the typical small business £5,000 a year.
"It is one nation Labour which recognised that small firms need help with escalating business rates and soaring energy costs, just as big firms have had cuts in corporation tax," he will say."It is one nation Labour which recognised that small firms need help with escalating business rates and soaring energy costs, just as big firms have had cuts in corporation tax," he will say.
"It is one nation Labour which recognises that if we are to build prosperity for the long term, we must give help to the many businesses which will create most of the jobs and the wealth of the future – not just a few. That is why Labour is changing so that we can go into the next election as the party of small business and enterprise.""It is one nation Labour which recognises that if we are to build prosperity for the long term, we must give help to the many businesses which will create most of the jobs and the wealth of the future – not just a few. That is why Labour is changing so that we can go into the next election as the party of small business and enterprise."
The chancellor used his autumn statement to confirm a series of measures intended to address cost of living grievances highlighted by Labour, such as fuel bills and business rates. But a poll released by Ipsos Mori on Friday, based on interviews conducted with 1,071 adults on Thursday night, suggests that the early perceptions were negative.The chancellor used his autumn statement to confirm a series of measures intended to address cost of living grievances highlighted by Labour, such as fuel bills and business rates. But a poll released by Ipsos Mori on Friday, based on interviews conducted with 1,071 adults on Thursday night, suggests that the early perceptions were negative.
Some 42% of respondents said that they thought that on balance Osborne's package of measures was bad for them, while just 15% said they thought it was good for them, said Ipsos Mori, which also admitted that many people at that point did not feel sufficiently informed to have a clear view on this point.Some 42% of respondents said that they thought that on balance Osborne's package of measures was bad for them, while just 15% said they thought it was good for them, said Ipsos Mori, which also admitted that many people at that point did not feel sufficiently informed to have a clear view on this point.
But the poll found clear opposition to Osborne's decision to increase the state pension age in line with life expectancy. Some 58% of respondents were opposed, and only 30% were in favour.But the poll found clear opposition to Osborne's decision to increase the state pension age in line with life expectancy. Some 58% of respondents were opposed, and only 30% were in favour.
Ipsos Mori also found, when forced to chose between two rival propositions, 40% said they agreed with shadow chancellor Ed Balls's claim that Osborne was in denial about the cost of living crisis, while ony 24% said they agreed with Osborne that his long-term plan for economic recovery was working. More than a quarter of respondents said they did not agree with either.Ipsos Mori also found, when forced to chose between two rival propositions, 40% said they agreed with shadow chancellor Ed Balls's claim that Osborne was in denial about the cost of living crisis, while ony 24% said they agreed with Osborne that his long-term plan for economic recovery was working. More than a quarter of respondents said they did not agree with either.
To mark the fact that this Saturday has been designated "Small business Saturday" in an attempt to encourage consumers to support small businesses, emulating a US scheme, Miliband will be visiting shops in Crystal Palace, south London. To mark the fact that this Saturday has been designated Small Business Saturday in an attempt to encourage consumers to support small businesses, emulating a US scheme, Miliband will be visiting shops in Crystal Palace, south London.
In its own initiative, the Department for Business will publish its own manifesto, Small Business, GREAT Ambition, highlighting government commitments to help small firms. The measures included: allowing firms in 22 cities to benefit from a fund that could pay them up to £3,000 to enable them to access better broadband; a commitment to ensure small firms supplying the public sector in a supply chain are not paid late; and measures to make it easier for small firms to tender for public sector contracts.In its own initiative, the Department for Business will publish its own manifesto, Small Business, GREAT Ambition, highlighting government commitments to help small firms. The measures included: allowing firms in 22 cities to benefit from a fund that could pay them up to £3,000 to enable them to access better broadband; a commitment to ensure small firms supplying the public sector in a supply chain are not paid late; and measures to make it easier for small firms to tender for public sector contracts.
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