4


at boosting productivity and supporting the businesses that deliver economic growth.


We also trust that she will take on board the PM’s declaration that the “broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden”.


SMEs, the backbone of Lancashire’s economy, must be supported and this Budget can’t be all about taxes and spending cuts. In the bleak situation Labour says it has inherited, growth becomes ever more important.


There is already a sense of trepidation among small business leaders over Labour’s changes in employment law, with warnings they represent a real risk to employment and the economy.


Taxes and employment costs are already soaring for small employers, many who described their situation as fragile. The message to the chancellor has to be to take care not to cause more harm.


Businesses need assurance that the new government is on their side and willing to offer the right support and conditions to help them thrive.


Much overdue action on the scourge of late payment that impacts so many small and medium sized businesses and their critical cashflow would be one welcome measure.


With the dust settled on the General Election and Keir Starmer ensconced in Downing Street, all attention now turns to Labour’s first autumn Budget.


The groundwork has already been laid by the new party in power – with the PM’s warning that it will be ‘painful’ in a speech widely seen as preparing the nation for tax rises and spending cuts.


Speaking from the garden in Downing Street behind a lectern that declared ‘Fixing the Foundations’ the PM warned people would have to “accept short-term pain for long-term good”.


He did not set out the details of what would be in the Budget but said those with the “broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden”.


As rallying cries go, ‘Things will get worse before they will get better’ leaves much to be desired.


However, there is no doubting the major


Richard Slater chairman richard@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295584


Rachael Brighouse marketing & events director rachael@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295586


Joanne Hindley sales director joanne@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295585


Tim Aldred online editor tim@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 297870


Anna King


senior administrator anna@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295582


challenges that the new administration is facing, not least the state of public finances.


And for the moment, the cry that it is a mess inherited from the Tories, and that things are


There are other issues around areas such as business rates that also need to be addressed. In Lancashire we await a declaration on where the new administration


SMEs, the backbone of Lancashire’s economy,


must be supported and this Budget can’t be all about taxes and spending cuts. In the bleak situation Labour says it has inherited, growth becomes ever more important


even worse than anyone thought, will give Labour some wriggle room.


But when chancellor Rachel Reeves stands up to deliver her first Budget on October 30 the hope has to be that, as well as those tough decisions, there will be measures aimed


Stephen Bolton managing director stephen@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295583


Ged Henderson editor editor@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295585


Abbey Coates operations manager abbey@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295585


Olivia McCaughran assistant marketing manager olivia@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295587


Adam Varnom graphic designer adam@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 297870


is going with our devolution hopes.


If the government is to succeed in its mission to build back public services and change its mantra to ‘Things have got better’ it needs a healthy and growing private sector to create the tax revenues that help fund them.


Lancashire Business View is written, designed and produced in Lancashire by Northpoint Publishing.


Lancashire Business View and LBV are registered trademarks.


The views expressed by our columnists are not necessarily shared by Lancashire Business View.


Photography: Clive Lawrence, Paul Adams, Liz Henson Photography and Adam Varnom.


Printers: Peter Scott Printers, Burnley


Northpoint Publishing East Park Lodge, East Park Road, Blackburn BB1 8DW


t: 01254 297870 ISSN: 1757-479X


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