Small family businesses are struggling through some of the hardest times they have ever faced at the moment.
The economy has taken a turn for the worse since the UK Labour government's first budget last autumn.
Before they assumed office, inflation was already high in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic and Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, which drove up energy prices.
The country's finances were just starting to recover when they were rocked by the decisions in Labour's budget, including the raising of national insurance and the introduction of a Family Farm Tax.
Those taxes not only broke promises that had been made to voters prior to last year's General Election. They have also forced businesses to rethink plans to hire additional workers, invest more in equipment or seek to expand their business.
I believe the changes have hit businesses the hardest in small towns and rural areas. In other words, the impact has been most severe in the very places we call home here in the Borders.
We have lots of small family businesses operating in this area, from farmers to food producers to other enterprises that act as critical components of the rural economy.
In turn, these businesses employ lots of local people and allow many other companies to thrive, including the small shops on our high streets, hospitality premises that cater to local workers, and the many services we all rely on regularly.
The consequences for our economy are so troubling that I have been doing everything in my power to convince Labour to change direction.
Most recently, in a speech to the House of Commons, I urged the UK government to abandon the Family Farm Tax policy.
If it goes ahead, as seems likely, Labour's decision will force the break up of many family farms, increase the price of food in shops, put food security at risk, and harm the environment as we are forced to rely on costly foreign imports.
But, regrettably, it seems the policy is going ahead. The National Farmers Union recently met with the government and afterwards, the union said they were "very disappointed" by Labour's "dismissive" and "bewildering" approach.
However, that won't stop me from standing up to this plan and continuing to push for change. If it will impact your business, please get in touch with my office and I will be happy to help however I can.
