Small business owners take chance to raise concerns with local MP

MP Lisa Smart hosted owners from a number of local businesses at her first small business lunch of 2026, with conversations ranging across energy costs, tax bands, national insurance, apprenticeships and young people

Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove constituency, said: “It’s vital to hear directly from those running small and medium-sized businesses, the engines of growth in our economy about the challenges they're facing, not least those brought on by government decisions.

“Across a whole range of areas, it was clear that what people wanted was clarity and certainty. When it comes to major investment decisions – whether that’s solar power or training and apprenticeships, they want to know that the Government is not going to add costs to their bottom lines. 

“Sadly, they don’t have confidence in the way the current Government is doing that.”