Responding to Labour’s decision to vote against the Welsh Conservative Senedd debate in opposition to Labour in Wales’ business rate relief cut (from 75% to 40%) and the Labour UK Government’s increase in employer national insurance, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Economy and Energy, Samuel Kurtz MS, said:
“I am deeply disappointed, though not surprised, by Labour’s continued defence of harmful tax hikes that target businesses both in Wales and across the UK.
“Only the Welsh Conservatives are consistently standing up for Welsh businesses, resisting Labour’s damaging policies that threaten to stifle economic growth and put Welsh jobs at risk.
“I urge everyone to support their local businesses, now more than ever, as Labour in London and Cardiff continue to punish them this festive season.”
The motion which will was debated read:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes that Small Business Saturday will take place on 7 December 2024.
2. Recognises the vital contribution that small businesses make in creating jobs, supporting our communities and developing local economies across Wales.
3. Believes that the UK Labour Government has broken a manifesto commitment by raising national insurance contributions and notes that the British Retail Consortium and 79 prominent retail leaders have indicated that the increase will lead to higher prices, job losses, and damage investment.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) make urgent representations to the UK Government to reverse an increase in national insurance contributions; and
b) reinstate business rates relief to 75 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector to support small businesses and protect jobs.
