SOLIHULL’S businesses ‘show Britain at its best’, according to the Shadow Chancellor.
Sir Mel Stride met with a range of hospitality, independent, and national businesses to highlight the borough’s record as a place where enterprise can start, scale, and succeed.
The Shadow Chancellor heard directly from businesses about the growing pressures they now face.
Recent increases in taxation, including changes to National Insurance Contributions, alongside rising wage costs, are placing additional strain on employers, even those that are otherwise successful and expanding.
Speaking during the visit, Sir Mel, said: “Solihull shows Britain at its best – ambitious, entrepreneurial, and open for business. But businesses are being held back by rising costs and a tax system that too often punishes success rather than rewards it.
“We cannot tax our way to growth – that only makes us poorer. We must back the shopkeepers, the publicans, and the businesses that keep our high streets alive and our economy moving.”
The Shadow Chancellor was joined by Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Solihull West and Shirley MP on his tour across the constituency.
The visit was part of an ongoing engagement by the Shadow Treasury team with businesses across the country, ensuring that future economic policy is shaped by the real experiences of those creating jobs, driving growth, and supporting communities.
Dr Shastri-Hurst MP said: “Time and again, Solihull has shown what is possible when the right foundations are in place for business to thrive. From independent shops and hospitality venues that form the backbone of our community, to major national and international employers, our local economy reflects a system that works.
“Solihull Council has played a key role in creating an environment where businesses can grow with confidence, supporting enterprise, attracting investment, and ensuring that opportunity is spread across the borough. It is this model that we should be championing more widely.
“But businesses also need stability and support from the Government. What we are hearing is that rising taxes, increased National Insurance Contributions, and higher employment costs are beginning to bite even for strong, successful firms. When thriving businesses start to feel the strain, it is a warning sign we cannot ignore.”