Enfield North MP Nick de Bois has received backing from the Prime Minister after calling for local business rates to be cut.

The MP raised the question during Prime Minister’s Question Time highlighting that local councils now have new powers to cut business rates and get funding from Government to do so.

It was reported in the Enfield Independent last week that local businesses are calling on Enfield Borough Council to help with business rates.

Reported to Mr de Bois that businesses in Enfield are paying almost as much in business rates as they are in rent, he called Prime Minister David Cameron to “make the right choices to support hard-pressed retailers.”

Mr Cameron responded by saying it was vital to “encourage councils to make sure that they do everything they can to apply the discounts where they are available and to continue to work on this issue."

The MP told the Enfield Independent: "We have a job now to try and persuade Enfield Council to make it a priority to help small businesses with their business rates.

“The Council has the power and the financial help from government to do so. They need to act now to make sure our local shops and businesses - and the jobs they provide - are given help now so that they're still here in years to come."