Senior Labour figures urge shoppers to back Small Business Saturday in run-up to Christmas

Small businesses “provide six out of ten jobs” and are the “life blood” of our economy, Clive Lewis said today.

Speaking ahead of Small Business Saturday, a campaign day where people are encouraged to support local small businesses in their community, the shadow business secretary has encouraged people to use their local high streets in the run up to Christmas.

Lewis said: “Small businesses … add life and diversity to local high streets, and give an important boost to local economies – for every £1 spent with an SME, 63p is re-spent in the local area, compared to just 40p for a chain or larger business.”

“Coming in the run up to Christmas, Small Business Saturday is a great opportunity for people up and down the country to show their appreciation to small businesses. Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the vitality that small businesses bring to our areas, but we also need to recognise the contribution small businesses make all year round. I urge everyone to make an extra effort to visit their local small businesses this Saturday.”

Chuka Umunna, the former shadow business secretary, wrote a piece for LabourList yesterday urging people to get behind the campaign, saying how small businesses are at the heart of Labour values.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has echoed Lewis and Umunna’s support for the campaign, saying: “We should do all we can to thank [small businesses] for the vital contribution they make to the local economy, adding to the local community and boosting diversity on the high street.”

“It will be fantastic to build on the success we achieved with Small Business Saturday in the last two years, which is why I’m getting fully behind the campaign again and giving my support to local businesses. There are lots of great businesses in Edinburgh and across Scotland and the campaign is a great way of raising awareness and helping boost trade.”

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s economy spokesperson said: “Small Business Saturday is growing bigger and better every year, it’s such an important day because it puts small businesses in the spotlight and encourages people to shop locally, not only on one of the busiest shopping days of the year but also to encourage a long-term commitment. It provides a great opportunity to thank those who run Britain’s small firms.”