Karen is a regular customer of Boardman's newsagent in Leek but today's discussion with Susan Boardman was about more than the usual paper bill and football stickers for her kids. The National Federation of Retail Newsagents invited Karen to hear their concerns and by coincidence it was her local shop they chose to come to.
Susan and Karen discussed the difficulties small businesses face. Karen said:
"Susan and her husband Karl, like many other newsagents and independent retailers, provide an excellent service. Not only do they work really hard to make a living, opening at 5 a.m. every day, but they also have to make sure they are responsible. They don't sell cigarettes to under-age kids and they have constantly to be vigilant as shop-lifters and petty crime are a real problem.
"Labour's policies have hurt all companies but large organisations can often afford to hire people to deal with the red tape they have introduced and it's harder for family businesses. I sympathise with Susan and Karl particularly about the lack of wholesale competition that makes life harder for them and as an accountant I appreciate how this makes the need to manage their cashflow even more pressing.
"If I'm elected I will help bring in Conservative polices that will support small businesses,
including removing regulation and creating new ways to access credit."