I'm A Small Business Owner And I'm Still Torn On Who To Vote For

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Sira Dheshan Naidu has been carefully considering which parties have shown support for small businesses after Brexit, something that has helped to shape his decision about who he will vote for this Thursday.

The 45-year-old business owner, from London, started his skin, hair and beard care brand, Disruptor London, in 2021 with his friend Juan Jimenez Anca, 43 . The brand strives to be as green as possible when it comes to their business, which Mr Naidu said "focuses on sustainability and reshaping consumption narratives".

As such, in Thursday's general election, it is likely that the pair will back the Green Party. Mr Naidu told i : "Our voting decision is heavily influenced by parties' stances on climate change, economic recovery and support for small businesses post-Brexit.

"Based on the joint Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth manifesto rankings [which weighs up which is the best party to choose in terms of protecting the planet], the Green Party emerges as the strongest contender, scoring 39 out of 40 points. Their robust environmental policies and commitment to green jobs align closely with our business values."

Soaring costs and inflation, higher taxes and regulation and reduced consumer spending have defined the past few years for the UK's estimated 5.5 million small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

One major issue for Mr Naidu is that none of the main parties have presented a comprehensive plan to reverse the 'damage' caused by Brexit to small businesses.

He said this was "a significant concern" for them as business owners, adding: "Our final decision will balance climate action commitment with practical considerations for our business's viability, potentially considering tactical voting based on local constituency dynamics."