Enough of this Thatcher nonsense, let's support local businesses instead

Well, in my experience, this talk of being a "classic old-school Conservative" just makes me tired. It always seems to mean cutting public services and pretending that the free market will magically sort everything out. I remember the impact of some of those policies back in the day, and it wasn't good for ordinary people or our high streets.

We need to move on from these outdated ideas. Instead of grand pronouncements from on high, we should be focusing on practical support for the small businesses that are the backbone of our communities. Think about the independent shops and cafes in Scunthorpe, the ones that really know their customers and employ local people. They’re the ones struggling the most with rising costs and competition from huge online giants.

My proposal is for a "Community Business Booster" fund.