Andrea Jenkyns, the local candidate for the Conservatives in May’s general election went back to the shop floor on Saturday. She visited Cadeaux of Queen Street, Morley, where she spent the morning working as their apprentice, to add to her understanding about the issues local retailers face and how they will benefit from last Wednesday’s budget.

Andrea, who has had a successful career in retail, started her first job in a shop at the age of 16, said “As a campaigner to improve Morley’s high street it is important that I have front line experience of the issues our local retailers face. Politicians shouldn’t sit behind their desks and decide what’s best for people, they should get out into the community and experience things for themselves. I want to see a lasting legacy of employment and prosperity in Morley, built on our economic recovery, which will only happen if we create the right environment for independent businesses like Cadeaux to start up and grow.”

She added “I was really impressed by the personal touch Sam has when looking after her customers. Cadeaux also has some amazing gift ideas such as the Morley and Yorkshire range of cards and mugs. Sam, like other local businesses has invested a lot into setting up a business in Morley and so it is important we support and use their services as much as we can".

Cadeaux owner Sam Aspinall, who has been in business for ten years and will be celebrating four years in Morley in May, said “Morley is a great place place to be in business, people may not realise it but you can buy on our high street what you can buy in Harrods. The support for small businesses announced in last week’s budget is a really positive step.”

Measures announced in the budget to support small businesses, like many of the shops in Morley, include scrapping VAT for employees aged under 21 and apprentices, the cut in the rate of corporation tax to 20%, and a commitment to review the current system of business rates.