Recently, it was announced that every adult in Northern Ireland would be eligible for a £100 voucher to spend on the high street. The voucher is being introduced to help retail and hospitality outlets, which have been badly affected by lockdown measures. The voucher cannot be used online. The Northern Ireland Government believes this voucher scheme will have a “multiplier effect which will help bring many more customers back through the doors of local retail, hospitality and other sectors.” A huge petition could persuade Boris Johnson to introduce a £100 voucher scheme in England and give retailers a helping hand when they need it the most.

We the undersigned, traders and residents of Ponders End, Enfield urge Barclays Bank to reconsider their decision to close the Ponders End branch this coming May 2021. We expect Barclays to consider the impact the closure will have on our town leaving it without a bank and their social responsibility towards the community, individuals and businesses who would find it incredibly difficult to conduct their affairs via a post office, on line or by travelling to other branches of Barclays where parking is also a nightmare.

Big supermarkets are one of the few businesses who have done well during the Covid-19 crisis. So why are they receiving millions in government handouts which could be used to support struggling businesses and communities? Back in March, the government introduced a 12-month tax relief for businesses across England and Wales to provide a safety net for those that were facing financial difficulty. Thousands of businesses stepped forward to receive a hand-out, including the UK’s big supermarkets. But retailers like Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Lidl, and Asda have all experienced a boom in sales at a time when they remained open for business while others were forced to close. And they’ve done well: Sainsbury’s recently paid £231 million in dividends to its shareholders. Coincidentally, almost exactly the same amount as their public money bonus. Other businesses have paid back public funds they didn’t end up needing – while supermarkets should never have been eligible for this money in the first place. It’s only right they now do the right thing and hand back the cash to the government. At a time when many people across the country have struggled with getting food on the table and school children have been left hungry, these millions could be used by government to support small businesses and communities, for example funding extra support to families affected by job losses. We need to get our priorities straight as a country – and that includes supporting small businesses and families over handing out huge tax breaks to big corporates like supermarkets. If supermarkets want to live up to the cuddly image they’re cultivating this Christmas, they should hand back the cash. Read more about the issue here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/supermarkets-sweep-up-with-1-9bn-tax-break-nmrn2fjp2 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/15/supermarkets-should-pay-back-19bn-covid-business-rates-relief-say-mps

There’s no doubt that 2020 has been a tough year for many of us. The pandemic has affected our health, livelihoods and the way our society functions. But there is a way to build back better that protects our communities and our planet - now and into the future. The pandemic has changed everything about the way we live and work. As winter approaches, the Office for National Statistics has reported rising unemployment - and this will only get worse unless the government acts. In fact, according to a new report by Build Back Better, almost two million jobs could be lost forever as a result of the pandemic. But mass unemployment is not the inevitable end result. The UK Government has an opportunity to invest in our future by prioritising a new type of economy - a green economy. According to Build Back Better, investing £68 billion over the next two years would create 1.2. million new jobs, strengthen our infrastructure and services, and help to fight the climate crisis. Join us by calling on the Prime Minister to protect us now by investing in our future.

Corporation tax - a tax that means companies will pay a little bit more tax, to help fund our schools and NHS and get us out of the economic crisis caused by Covid-19. Taxes fund our vital public services, they pay for our NHS, safe roads, schools and more. With COVID-19 costing the UK billions, we need to raise more money, to protect our vital public services. The government is considering raising corporation tax to help cover the cost. It means companies pay a bit more, and would put us in line with the global average corporation tax rates. Add your name to the petition if you agree that companies should pay more tax to help protect our NHS and public services.

Our tax system is deeply unfair. People who make their money from selling second homes and expensive artworks pay much less tax than the majority of us when we pay tax on our income. With the government looking at how to recoup the billions it’s spent during the coronavirus crisis, increasing tax on these profits - called Capital Gains Tax - would be a fair way of helping cover the cost. It would mean the government wouldn’t need to make cuts or increase taxes that would make life harder for frontline workers, NHS staff and all those who have struggled to make ends meet over the last few months.

The government has spent billions to help protect Britain during the coronavirus crisis. Now Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, is looking for ways for the government to make this money back. Increasing capital gains tax - instead of cutting things from those who need it - could be a fair way to help cover the cost of extra spending during the coronavirus pandemic. It means the financial burden of the pandemic is removed from those of us working on the front lines, struggling to feed our families, or losing our jobs. Taxing the wealthy for assets like art or second homes will mean those of us who can afford to pay more do, and those of us who can’t don’t have to.

The Bank of England is bailing out huge businesses with billions of pounds of taxpayers money - but some of these businesses are destroying our climate, avoiding paying tax, and laying off workers. It doesn’t have to be this way. The government could choose to only provide Bank of England bailouts to companies that protect jobs and the climate, and pay their fair share of tax. Or they could continue - businesses as usual - and dole out taxpayer money irresponsibly. Campaign groups have been working hard to uncover the scale of this crisis. And public polling has shown that 63% of the public think big businesses should only receive public bailout money if they agree to these key conditions. But if we are to stand a chance of building a fairer, greener country after the pandemic - we’re going to need to turn up the pressure. A huge petition - signed by hundreds and thousands of members of the public will send a clear message: only bail out businesses which help build a fairer, greener future.

The local community rely heavily on this store. The store is a vital part of life for some of the customers. Especially the elderly. They have formed bonds with the staff there and like the store as it is smaller than others and feels more welcoming. The local business too would suffer as the majority of people come to the park solely for Aldi and then visit other retails while there. It is a very busy store and I can’t understand the closure.

Many self-employed people and small businesses are on the brink of going under. 4 months without any income has been devastating for many. It cannot be sustained for much longer.

I realise that during Covid 19 it is only fair to accept that to a certain degree a governments focus can only be on the one thing. but it feels to me, that while this has been happening, the Scottish Oil Industry has crashed with very little news coverage or government intervention. 1000's of people have lost their jobs, 1000's of people are now in the position of having to sell their homes. the stamp duty must be reduced to encourage buyers which in turn assists the many in dire situations to sell their homes quicker before facing repossession or bankruptcy.

The government is handing out billions of pounds in bailouts to big companies who are struggling due to the coronavirus crisis. This is really important to support the economy and keep people in their jobs. But some companies have dodged their obligations in the good times by not paying their fair share of tax. And now many of these same companies are asking for a handout when things get tough. This isn’t fair on the rest of us who do contribute. Paying taxes is essential to help fund public services like the NHS, schools and our care system. The Fair Tax Mark has set out three clear conditions for bailouts. Any big company getting a bailout should lift the lid on their tax affairs, disclose who ultimately profits from their activities, and promise not use tax havens and tax avoidance schemes. Politicians in Scotland and Wales are taking action. The UK government has announced it's putting legally-binding tax conditions on just one bailout so far - for Cesla Steel. Join us in calling for Rishi Sunak to make sure that all big companies getting bailouts pay their fair share.