SMALL business owners of hardware shops, pet stores and a film company met the man who could be the next business minister.

Shadow business minister Chuka Umunna was given a guided tour of Woodingdean businesses by Brighton Kemptown candidate Nancy Platts before heading over to Jew Street to visit the firm that candidate Peter Kyle co-founded.

Mr Umunna told The Argus that one of the priorities of a Labour government would be to ensure that small businesses do not have to wait “days on end” to be paid by larger companies, promising small businesses “a level playing field”. He added: “In the case of Peter, it would be great for us to increase the number of people in Parliament with direct business experience.”

Labour-voting John Baker, whose store Johny’s Wares in Warren Road, Brighton, was one visited by the politicians, said he approved of Labour plans to cut and then freeze business rates for smaller business properties.

He said: “The freeze on business rates that would be a big help for us, it is one of our biggest expenses over the last few years.”