LABOUR'S shadow small business minister hopped into the chair of a town centre barbers as he launched his pledge to trim business rates for small companies in the party's first budget.

Toby Perkins, joined Labour's candidate for Warrington South, Nick Bent, at Lords of the North, on Barbauld Street, on Tuesday, to discuss the plan which will help 6,000 Warrington businesses if brought in.

A total of 228,000 business in the north west could benefit from the pledge set to ease the tax burden on small businesses and ensure they are first in line for tax cuts.

"It will certainly help more businesses come forward and will encourage small businesses, as well as helping high street business to keep going," said Mr Perkins.

"We have seen huge pressure on businesses in the last decade - we have the most expensive corporate property tax in Europe but this should help businesses expand."

New figures published by Labour show that since 2010, revenue from business rates has gone up by almost £3 billion and that higher business rates have cost firms an average of £1,500 a year.

Labour is set to lower the tax burden on small businesses with a cut in business rates – worth an average of £400 – rather than going ahead with another cut in corporation tax for large firms.

"We are launching the small business manifesto because the businesses here are the lifeblood of Warrington," said Mr Bent.

"This is a town which has a thriving business community - we have some fantastic big employees in the town and big partners.

"But most of the business are small and medium sized - that is why our small business manifesto is so important."