Thread by @e_nation

🗳 The stage is set for the 2019 General Election Small Business Debate in association with @ICAEW_BAS @TenThinkTank @teamIPSE and @Coadec

Follow along with #SBDebate

#GE2019

Ian Wright from @ICAEW_BAS welcome attendees to #SBDebate

“All general elections are significant but some elections are more significant than others.”

#GE2019

🗳 If you’re not with us at the General Election Small Business Debate right now, you can tune in to the live stream here: buff.ly/2KSxHBN

#SBDebate #GE2019

Enterprise Nation founder @emmaljones takes to the stage.

“Manifestos may change but one thing we stand firm on is asking what the parties will do for small businesses and making sure your views are represented”

#SBdebate #GE2019

Before the debate begins, here’s how the audience say they intend to vote:

@Conservatives 36%
@UKLabour 21%
@LibDems 38%
@TheGreenParty 2%
@brexitparty_uk 2%

#SBDebate #GE2019

On the panel at tonight’s General Election Small Business Debate:

@trussliz from @Conservatives
@Bill_Esterson from @UKLabour
@EdwardJDavey from @LibDems
@Amelia_Womack from @TheGreenParty
@hbirchwood1 from @brexitparty_uk

Chaired by @DanielThomasLDN

#SBDebate #GE2019

Responding to criticism that @borisjohnson doesn’t support business and the Conservative manifesto lacks detail, @trussliz says he was a very pro-business mayor of London and he supports enterprise. “Entrepreneurs are people we should cheer at, not sneer at” #SBdebate #GE2019

“We have said we will not put @jeremycorbyn or @borisjohnson into Number 10. I am fed up of the politics in this country where people tell lies. If we want to keep the free trade principles of this country, we must stop Brexit,” says @EdwardJDavey #GE2019 #SBdebate

“The polls are getting tighter. There is a long way to go. The fundamental cornerstone of the Conservative manifesto is a hard Brexit which will do damage to businesses,” says @Bill_Esterson SBDebate #GE2019

What’s the point of @BrexitPartyUK when there’s the @Conservatives, asks @DanielThomasLDN “The Tories have taken a lot of the policies of Nigel Farage,” says @hbirchwood1 #sbdebate #ge2019

“@TheGreenParty supports a People’s Vote so small business owners can have the final say on Brexit”, says @Amelia_Womack #SBdebate #GE2019

“We will use the procurement system to ensure that big firms that win public sector contracts have to pay suppliers within 30 days”, says @Bill_Esterson #SBDebate #GE2019

“We will fine big businesses that don’t pay on time after 30 days,” says @Amelia_Womack #SBDebate #GE2019

“We will scrap IR35 because as a tax it does not work,” says @hbirchwood1 from @brexitparty_uk

#SBdebate #GE2019

“We need to celebrate contractors and the self-employed. The loan charge is a scandal and a disgrace. If we have any power we will scrap the retrospective nature of the loan charge”, says @EdwardJDavey from @LibDems

#SBdebate #GE2019 #loancharge

Don’t forget that you can tune into the live stream of the General Election Small Business Debate here: buff.ly/2KSxHBN

#SBDebate #GE2019

“We will conduct a review and make sure we are treating the self-employed fairly. We want to give more teeth to the small business commissioner on late payment,” says @trussliz from @Conservatives

#SBdebate #GE2019

Enterprise Nation member @pauldurrant12 asks what the parties will do to deal with business rates that are “stifling businesses” #SBdebate #GE2019 #ENmember

On business rates, @trussliz will conduct a fundamental review, @EdwardJDavey will introduce a landowner levy, @hbirchwood1 will scrap rates and review a replacement, @Amelia_Womack will introduce a land value tax, @Bill_Esterson will have a review #SBdebate #GE2019

Audience vote after the debate:

@Conservatives 24% (36% pre debate)

@UKLabour 11% (21% pre debate)

@LibDems 54% (38% pre debate)

@TheGreenParty 7% (2% pre debate)

@brexitparty_uk 4% (2% pre debate)

#SBDebate #GE2019