MSP Encourages Shoppers to Keep it Local

Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Independent Convenience Stores, Gordon Macdonald MSP, is encouraging Edinburgh residents to shop locally and support the 18,710 small businesses in the local economy.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting businesses in Scotland, including retailers, providing the most competitive package of non-domestic rates reliefs anywhere in the UK in the 2018/19 budget. This includes the Small Business Bonus scheme that has already saved smaller firms £1.5bn, lifting 100,000 business premises out of rates altogether.

Commenting SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon Macdonald, said:

“Shopping locally is good for communities, good for the environment and great for the local economy, supporting 102,830 workers in Edinburgh in small businesses.

“Today’s market provides many new challenges for retailers, including the move to online shopping as well as Brexit-fuelled inflation and more expensive imports that translate into higher prices at the checkout. Brexit is the biggest threat facing the Scottish economy and the SNP will continue challenging the Tory government’s extreme Brexit plans and standing up for Scottish businesses and jobs.

“Given these challenges, wherever possible, we should all seek to support Edinburgh’s huge variety of brilliant independent, locally run businesses such as the Corner Café in Currie, Splash Bathrooms and Parkhead Bakers. Each small business offers something unique and special, and it is important that we support them and help our local economy to thrive in a market that is increasingly dominated by the big players.”