Plea for more business support in Lancashire after Rishi Sunak's Tory conference speech

Speaking after Rishi Sunak’s speech at the virtual Conservative Party Conference, FSB national chairman Mike Cherry said: “The Chancellor said he wants to help small businesses to adapt while creating support and extending opportunities, but any further restrictions on trading must have an economic support package attached.

“Various packages of support have been issued since the start of the crisis back in the spring which have undoubtedly saved millions of jobs. As we approach the winter and the prospect of tougher restrictions on the economy, more help is going to be needed to avoid thousands of businesses and jobs going under.

"It’s vital alongside this that he addresses the large gaps in support, especially to company directors and start-ups. Looking forward, we need also to be looking at moves to boost job creation, and to help those made redundant to set up their own business.

“Recent measures unveiled to help retrain and educate workers with key skills to help them get onto or back on the working ladder are welcome, but more must be done.

“Once the furlough scheme comes to an end on the 30 October, there remain industries, sectors and local areas still closed or facing severe restrictions by government and with no date or prospect of opening – which therefore means no work at all for their employees.

"The future for the events sector, night-time economy, arts and travel industries looks increasingly bleak. However we are going to need them in order to revive the economy.”

He added that tax hikes in the future would only stall the recovery.

“It remains absolutely critical that measures are announced to help those left out by these various packages in particular the newly self-employed and company directors. These individuals have been left with little or no income support for much of the year with little prospect in sight of a rebounding economy in the immediate future, the Government must address this area sooner rather than later.

“And with local lockdowns of varying degrees taking part right across the UK, it is vital that viable small firms impacted by curtailed footfall, curfews and forced closures are given the support they need to reopen again once measures are lifted."

The Chancellor said after the conference that restrictions on businesses could be relaxed when the virus was under control and when test and trace “is able to do its job”.

Asked about the 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants being relaxed in time for Christmas in an interview after his Tory conference speech, Mr Sunak said: “Of course we understand, everyone knows how important Christmas is to all of us, to our families, as you say we want to have a good time."

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he would be interested in helping the entertainment industry recover with a Eat Out To Help Out-style scheme at the right time.