MORE needs to be done to support small business in Ceredigion and Gwynedd, a Mid and West Wales MS has said, as they struggle to cope with the “long-lasting fallout of the pandemic.”

Liberal Democrat MS Jane Dodds said that “not enough is being done to support small businesses given the adverse few years they have just had to face”, including the pandemic and new Brexit regulations.

The Liberal Democrats are now calling for reform of business rates, improved broadband speeds and access, further investment in towns regeneration and a windfall tax on global giants like Amazon.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the Welsh economy, especially in rural areas like Ceredigion and Gwynedd,” Ms Dodds said.

“With over 60 per cent of Welsh employment being provided by small and mediums businesses, they will be driving force behind our recovery from the pandemic.

“It is for this reason it is absolutely vital they are properly supported over the coming years with real tangible ideas.

“Business rates represent an enormous on our local shops and enterprises. An analogue tax in a digital age, rates give a competitive advantage towards online retail giants while punishing our local shops that actually employ local people and pay all their taxes.

“If the Labour-Plaid Cymru administration is considering reforming council tax, reforming business rates should also be at the top of their agenda. At a UK Government level, we continue to call on the Conservatives to implement a windfall tax on online giants such as Amazon where the funds raised can go into improving high streets across the UK.

“We also want the Government to consider more support for a towns regeneration fund.

“We are proposing a £500 million towns regeneration fund over the next five years to invest in the physical and digital infrastructure of our towns.

“In rural regions like my own, digital connectivity is still a major barrier to the success of some small businesses. In 2020, Dwyfor Meirionnydd and Ceredigion had some of the worst internet speeds in the UK at less than half the national average”.

“It’s also important to recognise the impact that leaving the EU has had on many small businesses across Wales.

“We can do more to support our small businesses, we just need key players to find the political will to do so.”