Hertfordshire Tories Refused to Ask Government for More Help for Local Businesses - Lib Dems Protest.

The Conservatives at Herts County Council have refused to back the idea of providing support to Hertfordshires businesses affected by Covid closures and to help businesses recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

At the end of October, Liberal Democrat councillors had proposed that the council should write to the government to tell them that more support for local business was needed alongside timely, evidence based and effective action to tackle the pandemic.

Liberal Democrat County Councillor Steve Jarvis, who proposed the motion, said,

"In September the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership told the council that they expected the pandemic to result in the economy of Hertfordshire shrinking by £5 billion with the loss of 60,000 jobs - but that was before the second wave saw increasing restrictions. Although Hertfordshire is not as badly affected as some parts of the country it is clear that there will continue to be a massive impact on jobs and people's income as well as their health."

"Getting the government to provide more help for the businesses affected and for those businesses which will provide new jobs when we eventually emerge from the pandemic is vital to protect people's livelihoods. I really don't understand how the Conservatives could vote against providing support to local businesses affected by the pandemic, but that's exactly what they did."

Dacorum Borough Councillor, Sally Symington, who is a candidate for Tring in the County Council Elections in May 2021 added,

"The Herts Lib Dems asked the County Council in October to try to secure more help for businesses. Now, after seven weeks of further restrictions, this help is needed more than ever. Why didn't the Conservative administration listen to our local Enterprise Board? Struggling small businesses deserve an answer."