Ed Miliband backs Croydon’s small businesses

Labour leader Ed Miliband MP came Christmas shopping in Croydon to support local businesses on the UK’s first-ever Small Business Saturday.  Ed Miliband and Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna joined Croydon North MP Steve Reed on a visit to local shops in Crystal Palace.

Ed Miliband bought a jigsaw puzzle for his young sons at Papagaio toy shop on Church Road before buying a story book at the Bookseller Crow bookshop on Westow Street.   He enjoyed a light lunch at Domali cafe, bought bread and ham from local deli Good Taste,  and toured Haynes Lane farmers’ market to meet shoppers and stall-holders.

Ed, Chuka, Steve and Cllr Tony Newman, Labour’s leader on Croydon Council, also backed the launch of a new guide to local shops launched that morning by Transition Town Crystal Palace.  The guide is a community-led initiative to encourage people to shop locally and keep money circulating in the local economy.

Speaking after the visit, Steve Reed MP said: “Ed Miliband came to Croydon to show Labour’s support for small business both here and across the country.  He listened to local business owners who told him they back Labour’s plans to cut business rates, freeze energy prices and offer tax breaks for employing more young people.  There was real disappointment that the Tory-led Government has hit businesses with an increase in VAT and failed to ease the pressure on shoppers’ household budgets.”

He continued: “Crystal Palace has so many unique and wonderful small independent shops and restaurants.  It’s important these small businesses are offered support to stay in business. They help give the local area its unique character and make it such a wonderful place to live.”