IF the Government delays providing support then it could be too late for businesses in Ludlow and south Shropshire.

Shropshire Chamber of Commerce has backed calls for an emergency budget to provide urgent support for struggling businesses, and help to get the economy back on track.

These are easing costs by reversing the recent increase in National Insurance, helping them to cope with soaring fuel costs by cutting VAT on energy for at least a year and also do a u-turn on the decision to stop providing free Covid-19 tests.

Chief executive Richard Sheehan echoed the views of the British Chambers of Commerce, which wants the Government to focus on three key priority areas.

“There were some welcome measures in the Queen’s Speech for business, but much of that is for the future,” said Mr Sheehan.

“We are more concerned with tackling the problems that we’re hearing about right now.

“Unless the Government takes immediate action, we are increasingly concerned that it could come too late for many Shropshire businesses which are really struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

“We urgently need to find ways of allowing firms to keep a lid on rising prices, boost productivity and ease cost pressures which seem to be coming at them from every direction at the moment.

“An emergency budget which acknowledges this situation would provide firms with the breathing space they need to raise productivity and strengthen the economy.”

Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, will be one of the headline seakers at the Shropshire Chamber summer conference in Telford on June 8.

“The costs crises facing firms and people in the street are two sides of the same coin.

“If we can ease the pressure on businesses then they can keep a lid on the price rises being driven by surging energy bills, staff shortages and higher taxes. Only after an emergency budget will some of the legislation set out in the Queen’s Speech have a chance to drive our economy forward.”