'It was a beautiful sunny day and I had a very warm reception. I was very pleased to meet old friends like Bill Mannix (see below) who owns the famous Rivoli Ballroom and George the Barber (above) whose shop is close by.
'I had a good conversation with Sylvester from Lundies Caribbean Restaurant and the Turkish Kebab shop. They were keen to be reminded that Labour:
- 'cut VAT to stimulate demand and help struggling businesses in the critical stage of the recession;
- introduced the 'Time to Pay' Scheme to allow over 200,000 businesses which collectively employ 1.4 million people to delay more than £5 billion in business taxes, on a timetable they can afford. This scheme will continue throughout the next Parliament; and
- has deferred the planned increase in the Small Companies Rate of corporate tax for an extra year, helping around 850,000 companies.'