Sarah Olney MP & The Fed

31/10/2025

The Fed met with Sarah Olney MP – Liberal Democrat Business Spokesperson – on Tuesday 28^th October and discussed key member concerns ahead of the Government’s Budget next month and with the Employment Rights Bill at a critical stage.

Senior Fed members National President, Hetal Patel, and Political Engagement Committee Chairman, Mo Razzaq, were on the call and discussed concerns about retail crime and the emotional as well as financial costs that was imposing.

They also discussed Lib Dem measures to boost neighbourhood policing, as well as the Fed’s ideas on providing security enhancement grants for retailer CCTV as well as extra Government money to beef up local authority trading standards teams.

Political Engagement Coordinator Doug Oliver also spoke and raised the important Business Rates relief that is currently in place for small retailers but may be in jeopardy with the spectre of strained public finances and with the Labour Government’s Budget due in a matter of weeks.

Sarah Olney spoke about the Liberal Democrats work to call on the Government to control business taxes in the forthcoming budget and beyo

The Fed members also raised concerns about the Employment Rights Bill which is currently being considered by the House of Lords including on measures like Statutory Sick Pay from the first day of employment, as well as other measures that could make it harder for small independent retailers to employ staff. Like the Fed, the Lib Dems have called for the Government to consider key measures again and the Fed looks forward to working with them in the months ahead.