Could this be the end of small business?

Of course, some small businesses will go bankrupt and others will start.

Eventually, the economy will start to recover. However, there will be some people who have spent their lives setting up and running a small business who will never recover. Which way it goes for individual businesses will depend on both judgement and luck.

It didn't need to be like this. This government has never planned. This government stripped out the resilience from the country over the last 12 years; they basically sold it off. This government has been the worst in my lifetime. It has been the one with the least empathy and understanding, whose members just don't care. So in answer to the OP yes, some small businesses, some individuals and some families will never recover.

I'm very worried because although I'm retired I have lots of friends who are self employed or run small businesses that will be badly hit by the rise in energy costs and/or by people having a lot less spare cash. I honestly don't know how a reduction in income tax or not implementing the NI increase will stop a recession. I feel there has to be a way of pegging the price of energy, which is what other countries have done, until we can see our way out of this as a whole country. OH has calculated how much a year's energy will cost if we have a cold winter. It is an eye watering amount but fortunately we will be able to pay it and have plans in place to ensure we use as little energy as possible but what about people who are just about managing or who really struggle already and those who might lose their jobs in a recession. Difficult times ahead, I'm afraid.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Reported.