London’s Greens unveil small business policies

Jenny Jones, Green Party candidate for Mayor of London, has unveiled 10 policies she says would help London’s small businesses.

Ideas include making it easier for small companies and voluntary groups to bid for City Hall contracts by putting each aspect of the contract out for tender separately.

Jones has also said she would use the Mayor’s power to set a planning framework for London to ensure communities have “essential” local shops and services such as chemists “within walking distance.”

The Mayoral candidate and current London Assembly member has previously said her Mayoralty would only work with banks which support small firms.

The full list of policies is:

1) Ensure more public sector contracts go to small businesses

2) Protect and re-develop the traditional ‘high street’

3) Support a ‘renaissance’ of micro, small and medium-sized businesses

4) Use the Greater London Authority budget to support small businesses

5) Only work with banks that lend to small business

6) Maintain the CompeteFor system

7) Increase small business representation in the community

8) Ensure local businesses aren’t disadvantaged by congestion and parking

9) Prevent chain stores taking over independent shops

10) Encourage Londoner’s to “buy local”

Jones said: “The Green Party means business in London, and these 10 policies show how as Mayor I would ensure small businesses became an absolute priority for City Hall.

“Small businesses drive competition, provide much-needed innovation and contribute hugely to employment and turnover. Despite this, London’s small businesses receive a chronic lack of support from the Mayor and central government.

“When times are tough, we cannot take the jobs, services, innovation and community support that small businesses provide for granted. Support from City Hall must increase.”