Jim Shanon MP (second left) met with representatives from the Fed last Friday.
Fed representatives met with Democratic Unionist MP, Jim Shannon on Friday (16 January) at Livingstone’s Newsagents in Comber.
The visit was hosted by the Fed’s Northern Ireland president, Julie Brown, who co-owns and runs the business with her brother Jim Livingstone. Also in attendance was the Fed’s membership services manager, Gwen Patterson.
The representatives highlighted the value of small independent shops to people across Northern Ireland and the wider UK and Ireland, together with the social and economic role they play at the heart of their communities.
Shannon said: “It was an extremely positive meeting and I was delighted to meet with Julie, Jim and Gwen from the Fed. I look forward to working with them to highlight the work of the Fed and what we can do locally and what I can do as a Member of Parliament from Westminster to amplify this message.”
Julie added: “We were pleased that Mr Shannon took the time to visit the business and listen to the points raised about the cost of doing business, as well as issues around theft and the challenges posed by rogue trade - including the illicit trade of tobacco and what can be done to stop it. I’ll be happy to work with him and to continue to work on the points we raised.
“We emphasised the danger that if rising business costs like higher taxes - particularly NI contributions - and energy costs are not addressed, they’re likely to lead to shorter shop opening hours and cutting staff hours.”
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