'Chancellor has given good news to small businesses but he must do more'

'Chancellor has given good news to small businesses but he must do more' 'Small and medium size businesses are the lifeblood not just of our economy but of our communities, and they are not the baddies - far from it', Baroness Ayesha Hazarika writes Wednesday will be a big moment for John Healey and Andy Burnham. While there’s a desire to dampen down expectations, a budget tells a story. The financial conditions are tough right now. We’re at the mercy of conflicts and maritime chokeholds thousands of miles away. Inflation, food, fuel and the cost of living is on the rise, despite some positive growth figures. But it’s important that Healy doesn’t look powerless or passive. There is action that can be taken, in his gift, that would send a strong message. And that would be to back small business. While this budget operation is mercifully less leaky than the last couple of years, we have seen some good news from Healy on cutting red tape for small business. But he needs to do more. Small and medium size businesses (SMEs) are the lifeblood not just of our economy but of our communities. They are often the family business, which then becomes a family for many employees. They are not the baddies – far from it. Take my local nail bar in Brixton. Set up by two entrepreneurial young people who still work a day job. They employ local young women and single mums to give them a trade. They’re a busy, buzzing hub and their customers support other local shops. They also act as my therapist as well as doing my nails. But they are struggling to make ends meet, particularly under the weight of extra taxes and burdens. They aren’t some “evil multi-national”, they are pillars of the community. They are also very much part of Andy Burnham’s positive vision for good growth in every postcode and a high street renaissance. These often-female owned beauty parlours and hairdressers sit alongside what makes for a happy, thriving community – the pub, the post office, the nice little café, the restaurant and local shops. These are the simple but rather magical ingredients which gives you a bit of pride of place and a bit of everyday joy. But we know that our retail, hospitality, beauty and other SME sectors are really feeling the pinch. They could also help our NEETs problem. They need the labour. Young people need a start in life. I know it’s hard to undo all the burdens on small business, but a signal of intent would be good. We have many challenges facing us right now, but we also have an abundance of natural resource – our hard-working small businessmen and women who work long days in the shop and spend long nights agonising over the payroll. They need a break - ideally a modest tax related one. 'Time for Western leaders to stand up to Trump' So apparently Melania Trump has brokered a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in relation to the city of Oleshky. Any cessation of fighting must be welcomed, but the cynic in me wonders if this part of a PR operation after a fortnight where Donald Trump shocked and repulsed the world by behaving like a Russian asset. The diesel deal, lifting of sanctions, restricting military access to Starlink, then Steve Witkoff calling Putin a great humanitarian… pass the sick bag. I know diplomacy is by its nature delicate, but it’s time for western leaders to stop bowing and scraping and stand up to him. He respects strength over weakness. Also, wouldn’t it be quite something if Melania ends up getting awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 'I back Burnham’s headphone dodgers crack down' I’m 100% behind Andy Burnham’s plans to crack down on headphone dodgers. Public transport has become feral. He’s talking about actual fines, but I think that’s just peak time travel. If you book in advance, you just get side eye from the conductor. Clearly, enforcement is going to be vital. Maybe we need an army of grumpy menopausal women in tabards on patrol telling people off. Sign me up! 'Bullying of Meghan Markle shamed Britain' Let’s leave Meghan Markle alone. Is it any wonder she distanced herself from her father? The gleeful, spiteful public bullying of this woman did not cover our country in glory and said more about us than it did about her. A period of silence from some would be very much welcome. Don’t hold your breath.