Aims and Objectives

The Forum is a network of Labour supporters and members, it isn't an official party organisation. The views expressed are those held by individuals and should not be construed as party policy.

“Let our party be the pro-enterprise as well as the pro-fairness party: Labour, the party of small businesses and the self employed in Britain just as much as we have always been and are the party of employees."

There is no need for the Party to look outside for advice and help on small business matters, as there is a wealth of experience and knowledge within the ranks of our own members.

Following a policy forum on Trade & Industry in Hertfordshire to which were invited small business owners, freelancers and self-employed workers who were party members. An advertisement for the forum in Labour’s eNews led to members expressing interest in the forum all over the country, from the Orkney Islands down to the tip of Cornwall. The meeting recognised the need for small business to have a voice within the party and provided a mandate to formally set up the Labour Small Business Forum.

The Forum is a network of Labour Party members and supporters. Our views areb't necessarily the 'party line', but Labour is a democratic party and listens to all views.

The aim of the Forum is to give a voice to this experience within the Party.
We note that :-

To be a small business can take many forms. You don’t have to employ people or manufacture goods to be in business, in our knowledge based economy the selling skills and knowledge on a freelance basis is forming an important and dynamic part of our economy and around 50% of our group is made up of freelance workers.

Our aims are as follows :-

• To work for the return of a Labour government.
• To co-ordinate the voice of all small business owners, freelance workers and the self-employed within Labour.
• To work to ensure that the government of the day maintains a clear commitment to freelance working, the self-employed and small businesses in the United Kingdom.

• To facilitate communication between the small business community and the Parliamentary Labour Party, and to make available the advice and expertise of members of the Association to local and national Labour Parties and affiliated organisations.

• To promote greater debate on small business matters, both within the Labour Party and nationally.

• To provide a forum for the discussion, debate and formulation of policy on matters affecting or affected by small businesses and freelance workers.

• To enable those running small businesses, working as self-employed or as freelancers to have a political voice with the Party.
• To become a centre of excellence on small business policy and legislation.