By Cllr Rob White
Reading Green Party is calling on government to offer a Small Business Saturday support package to help local firms thrive in their green transition.
As a Green Party councillor I visit independent businesses and social enterprises all around Reading, and so many tell me that they want to make a success of becoming more sustainable.
But they need government to get behind them and offer the right support.
We need a fair transition to net zero that helps rather than hinders the small and independent businesses that bring so much benefit to our local community.
That’s why, with last week’s Small Business Saturday in mind, we are calling for government to act and help small businesses thrive in their green transition.
The Green Party’s alternative Autumn Statement identified £30 billion that could be raised by making the super-rich pay a little more tax. Just £3 billion of that could be used to double funding for Green Transition Grants – to help small businesses prepare for and make the most of the opportunities of greening the economy.
From assisting small businesses to decarbonise their transport needs, to reforming VAT and suspending Covid repayments, there is much more the government should be doing.
Small and independent businesses and enterprises are the heart of our local community. The Green Party has long been the party of small business, and we want to see them thrive.
Greens are the second largest party in Reading
As the main opposition party on Labour-run Reading Council Green councillors will continue to work constructively to get the best for Reading residents. There are now seven Green Party councillors and we are now two councillors ahead of the Conservatives. We will keep working hard all year round on the issues that matter to residents.
If you’re keen on being part of the change in Reading, get involved and help us make Reading fairer, greener and cleaner: reading.greenparty.org.uk/get-involved
Green Party councillor Rob White, leader of the main opposition group on Reading Borough Council
