Defence of Boris Johnson's policy on SMEs.

On the 19th of August SME Web ran an article by John Spencer, CEO of MWB Business Exchange, entitled 'Boris is not giving SMEs enough airtime'; in which it was claimed the Mayor of London has not been giving enough attention to small businesses.

Today the Greater London Authority (GLA) contacted SME Web in order to put forward their case in defence of the Mayors stance towards London's small businesses.

A GLA spokesman said, "it's wrong to say that the Mayor is doing little to help London's small businesses. Last month the mayor held his first bi-annual business summit attended by a variety of business organisations where he listened carefully to the concerns raised and at which he announced measures to alter the London Plan to support small retailers by enabling the provision of affordable premises within new retailed and mixed developments."

The spokesman also said that far from taking a long time to scrap the proposal for the £25 Congestion Charge which had not even been implemented, this was achieved within three months of taking over as Mayor after necessary legal proceedings had taken place.

This was in response to Spencer questioning, "why it has taken this long to formalise the scrapping of a (Congestion Charge) proposal?"

The Mayors Press Office also pointed out Johnson's announcement at City Hall on the 31st July: “during the election I promised to champion all sectors of London's business community and especially look out for the concerns of small businesses. Our small shops add real character and diversity to the Capital’s high streets but they are finding themselves squeezed out by competition from supermarkets and rising unsustainable rents.

“My proposals aim to help reverse this trend, offering small retailers the opportunity to make a success of their enterprise both by making more suitable premises available and taking steps to level the playing field by securing affordable rents.”

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