LIBERAL Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable has been to Warrington to find out how the “credit crunch” is hitting small, independent businesses.
He was joined by Warrington South Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Jo Crotty and local councillor Celia 
Jordan on a tour of shops in Stockton Heath.
He wanted to know how businesses were coping with the economic situation and how they thought his party’s policies could help.
Shopkeepers were all agreed that trading conditions were getting increasingly difficult.
Richard Broadbent, of Broadbents fashion store, told Dr Cable: “This is the worst it’s been since the three-day week.”
He was particularly concerned about the need to buy stock months ahead with an uncertain economic future.
Joyce Craighan of Sarah Siddon’s fashion store said that she had “never known it this bad”.
She asked Mr Cable a question on behalf of her husband, a local accountant, who wanted to know if Lib Dem policy was indeed to reduce income tax by 4p off the basic rate.
He reckons that would make a fantastic difference,” said Mrs Craighan.
Dr Cable the Lib Dem planned to cut taxes for struggling families, lower energy bills, stop unfair repossessions, and cut interest rates to provide for lower mortgage payments and cheaper business loans.
Dr Cable said cutting taxes for low and middle income earners was just part of the Lib Dem plan to put the country back on track economically.
“The Government is going to spend lots of money in a recession to keep the economy going – it’s better to give people their own money back.”
Dr Cable also visited Rusoi’s restaurant to meet owners Jit and Pratima Patel and discuss their concerns about the economy.
Later, Dr Cable said: “The housing bubble has burst. Unemployment is rising fast. Tens of thousands of families are losing their homes. People are struggling with fast rising prices. It is now almost inevitable that the UK is heading for recession.
“What Britain needs now, and urgently, is practical action to help people who are struggling – to put money back in their pockets, to cut their energy bills, and help them keep their homes. The Lib Dems have a serious plan to get Britain’s economy up and running again.”
Picture shows (left to right) Joyce Craighan, Vince Cable, Jo Crotty and Celia Jordan.
