The Federation of Independent Retailers’ (the Fed) national president, Hemanshu Patel, has written to a series of new senior figures in government highlighting the vital role of independent retailers.
Patel’s correspondence to the Chancellor, the Business Secretary and Justice Secretary follow a letter of congratulations he sent to the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, on the day he took office on Monday 20 July, offering to meet Mr Burnham in Westminster or at one of the Fed’s thousands of businesses across the country.
In his letter to the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon John Healey MP, Patel said: “This remains a challenging time for the sector and our members due to retail crime and high costs,” citing concerns about rising energy bills, higher NI contributions and above-inflation increases in the minimum wage.
Patel’s letter also acknowledged the fiscal challenges the Government faces and offered to work with the South Yorkshire MP, as well as his officials in the Treasury, on a range of issues, particularly Burnham’s pledge to reform business rates.
As well as highlighting similar concerns about rising costs facing small shops to those in the Treasury letter, the Fed’s national president also highlighted a series of regulatory and business challenges in a letter written to the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology.
Patel spoke about the need for engagement with retailers on the rapid scope of regulatory reform.
In particular, he highlighted the need for engagement on a potential vape and display ban - currently being consulted upon as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Act - as well as measures which could restrict the ability of employers to recruit staff on a flexible basis following recent passage of the Employment Rights Act.
In addition, Patel also wrote to the new Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Alex Norris MP, whom the Fed has met on a number of occasions in the past, including when he spoke at the Fed’s national conference as Shadow Police Minister in July 2024, just before the General Election when Labour took power.
Patel’s letter to Mr Norris, who is MP for Nottingham North, focused on the continued challenge of retail crime, whilst citing the Fed’s positive engagement with the Home Office on this in recent years which has helped lead to the passage of the Crime and Policing Act and steps towards greater resourcing for Neighbourhood Policing.
“We are a familiar face in our communities and know our customers.”
Patel called for a stronger judicial approach to both deter and reform offenders, stating that: “Our members fully appreciate the multifaceted nature of retail crime – including its links to organised crime, as well as drug abuse and poverty – because we are a familiar face in our communities and know our customers.”
Each of the letters offered to meet with the new Cabinet members, as well as their junior ministers and civil service officials, at a time of mutual convenience after the summer recess.
No comments yet