Tesco Tax

I am writing to you about plans for a supermarket levy which would be used to help local communities.

Thanks to the generosity of Local Works supporters, we are now half way to achieving our funding target for launching the supermarket levy campaign.

If we are able to raise the remaining funds, we could produce and send out thousands more broadsheets on the supermarket levy to build support for the campaign. And we could meet with councillors and make sure they sign up to support the levy.

Large supermarkets have a devastating impact on local jobs, the environment and local businesses. Every time a large supermarket opens, 276 jobs are lost.⁽¹⁾

If councils were to ask for the power to impose a levy on large supermarkets, with the money going back into the local area, they would be in a position to help communities.

A levy like this has already been introduced in Northern Ireland - dubbed the "Tesco Tax" - and has helped over 8,000 small businesses over there.⁽²⁾ Not only that, but is has not led to any increased prices for customers either. In fact, it’s been good news all round!

Donating just £10 could allow us to send our broadsheet out to 40 people. This will mean lots more people writing to their councils and lots more councils signing up to support the levy.

So I would like to ask if you could help us reach our target, so that we have a chance of beating the big supermarkets on this.

Please could you donate here towards our campaign for a supermarket...

Thanks very much for your support.

Kind regards,

Steve, Dan, Zoe, Ameneh & the Local Works Team

(1) Porter and Raistrick. The Impact of Out of Centre Food Superstores on Local Retail Employment

(2) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18867910