It's time we gave pubs something to cheer about...

NA WORLD where headlines are increasingly focused on global markets, far away economies and international trade, it is too easy to overlook that which is much closer to home.

- By Jonathan Reynolds

Our high streets and small businesses are the beating heart of our economy. These are not just businesses, they are the family run shops, corner cafes and pubs which underpin our social fabric.

It's not easy running your own business. Empty shop fronts on our high streets stare back at us and over the past 14 years mountains of paperwork and confusing rules have slowly strangled our high street shops, pubs and restaurants.

We've seen more than 2,000 pubs close in the past five years.

Express readers will be as alarmed at this trend as I am.

That is why this Government is fighting back with a plan that puts small businesses and our high streets first.

We're breaking down barriers and making it easier to start and grow a business. Getting this right will unlock huge potential, not just for individual firms but for the whole economy.

We're going to cut through unnecessary red tape, making it easier to set up shop.