New Labour MPs, Bayo Alaba (Southend East & Rochford) and David Burton-Sampson (Southend West & Leigh), visited Indirock this week to meet with a handful of small businesses. 

Alongside Indirock’s owner,  Emily, they met with the owners of Sababa restaurant, Switch bar and Zara’s Aerial Arts Centre. 

Bayo and David listened to the concerns of these small businesses and discussed the plans that the new Labour government has to support them. 

Concerns were raised around the crime rate in Southend, rents and business rates, and that more needs to be done to celebrate the network of independent businesses in Southend City Centre. 

Labour has historically never held seats in the constituencies of Southend East and West, so it marks a moment in history to see two Labour MPs take these seats together for the first time. Time will tell whether they achieve anything different for Southend. 

Indirock was proud to be able to convene this meeting at Indirock Coffee Shop and give our new MPs a tour of our fabulous venue. As a community business, we care deeply in the future of Southend and we always do what we can to connect with and support other small business owners.