National President shares concerns of retailers with local MP

24/10/2025

The Fed’s National President Hetal Patel met with his local MP Joshua Reynolds at his shop and Post Office at Furze Platt in Maidenhead today (Friday, October 24) to discuss some of the challenges faced by small independent retailers.

Ahead of next month’s Autumn Budget and following the Fed’s contribution to the recent Post Office consultation, Hetal discussed some of the services his business provides including his Post Office, newspapers and the full range of convenience products which put him at the part of the local community.

The challenges caused by the Government’s tax increases from the last Budget in employer National Insurance Contributions and the reduction in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief were shared. Also discussed were the damaging effects that other cost and regulatory pressures and the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill would have on independent retailers and their businesses. Members concerns’ about retail crime were also shared.

Having managed branches of the Co-Op before he entered Parliament, Mr Reynolds shared details of his own retail experiences as well as discussing his current work on the Business Select Committee and as Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Investment & Trade in Westminster.

Also attending the meeting was the Fed’s political engagement coordinator Doug Oliver, who said: “It was a really useful meeting. We said that the Government was starting to take action on retail crime through boosts to Neighbourhood Policing through the Safer Summer Streets Initiative, but more needs to be done. We are keen for the Government to introduce grants so small retailers can enhance their CCTV and other security measures and to do more to beef up local authority Trading Standards as well as the police. We look forward to working with Joshua and his party colleagues in the near future.”

For more information, please contact the Fed’s Political Engagement Coordinator on douglas.oliver@nfrn.org.uk