Learn more about our political engagement work in the corridors of power.
Championing you where it matters most
Our campaigning is an important part of the work we do to support and represent you.
Our political engagement team focuses on the issues that affect you and your business. Among others, we engage with:
- Politicians in the parliaments and assemblies across the UK
- Members of the Dail Eireann
- Police and crime commissioners
- Officials in the Home Office, Scottish Government and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
As well as fighting on issues raised by government, such as our ongoing campaign to oppose changes to the Sunday trading laws, we also drive the campaigning on a range of important issues. These include retail crime, the introduction of a deposit return scheme, reform of business rates and the impact of increasing payroll costs.
Each year we lay out our policy positions and objectives in the Independent Retail Report.
Latest Updates:
Independent retailers welcome commitment to keeping communities...
Independent retailers welcome commitment to keeping communities safe when King Charles said his government “will act to keep communities safe from...
Retailers Call for the Home Office to Tackle Retail Crime
The Fed co-signed a letter with 87 other retailer and the BRC, demanding that the Government creates a standalone offence of...
The Fed’s call for better protection for...
The Fed’s call for better protection for shopworkers makes media headlines
Extinction Rebellion Protests in London – Update
To all Fed members based in London, be aware that in the upcoming weekend, from Friday 21st April to Monday 24th...
Independent retailers relieved as Scotland shelves plans...
Independent retailers have expressed relief that Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced plans to drop the ban on alcohol advertising...
Independent retailers should be compensated for DRS...
The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has welcomed today’s announcement that the deposit return scheme (DRS) in Scotland has been...
Guardian criticised for following the herd and cutting terms
Independent retailers have criticised the Guardian for following the herd and accompanying cover price rises on its weekday and weekend newspaper...
National wage rise to take effect tomorrow
From Saturday 1st April 2023, the national minimum wage will be rising across the United Kingdom, following recommendations made by the...
Mail gives on one hand and takes with the other
Just a matter of weeks after introducing enhanced payments for retailers supporting its new subscriptions scheme, the Daily Mail has provoked...
Current Campaigns
Keep Sundays Special
The government is considering changes to Sunday trading laws in England and Wales to allow larger stores to open all day on a Sunday. The NFRN is working with others across the industry to oppose this damaging and unnecessary change.
Illicit Trade - Suspect it? Report it!
The illicit trade market, in particular tobacco and alcohol, is a costly £3.6bn burden to both legitimate retailers and the Treasury.
The NFRN has campaigned against measures such as plain packaging which may increase the volume of illicit trade. We have also called for the government, Trading Standards, police and HMRC to do more to combat illicit trade. Counterfeit tobacco and alcohol are a particular concern to independent retailers.The proliferation of these products results in a substantial loss of sales for legitimate retailers. It also poses serious health risks to consumers.
NFRN and Imperial Tobacco team up to fight illicit tobacco
50,000 anti-illicit trade (AIT) packs branded with Imperial’s award-winningSuspect it? Report it! campaign were distributed to UK retailers in January 2017. Each pack contained a range of in-store activation materials, including infographics, posters and stickers. These resources were specifically created to raise awareness and understanding among retailers, their staff and adult smoker customers about the dangers of the illicit tobacco trade.
Peter Nelson, AIT Manager, Imperial Tobacco, said: “Latest reports* suggest around one in six factory-made cigarettes and two in five hand-rolled cigarettes smoked in the UK are of an illicit nature, which is among the highest in the EU. This illegal product can often be unregulated. It also threatens retailers’ livelihoods, brings criminal elements into local communities and deprives government of billions of pounds in much-needed tax revenue each year.
“We strongly believe that collaboration between government, industry and law enforcement is the only way to achieve long-term success, with all partners working together in a focused manner to achieve the government’s objectives of not only reducing the illegal trade, but also helping restrict youth access to prohibited products.”
What to do if you suspect illegal tobacco is being sold
If you have any suspicions around the sale of illegal tobacco where you live, report it! Contact either the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000, NFRN Connect or your local Trading Standards/police. You can also contact your Imperial Tobacco sales representative.
How to follow the campaign
If you would like to read more about the illicit trade, please visit www.suspect-it-report-it.co.uk, or follow @suspect_report on Twitter.
Past Campaigns
National Living Wage & Auto-enrolment
The NFRN is sympathetic to annual calls to increase the national living wage. However, our members cannot easily absorb these raises and they hinder their business growth.
This impact has not been anticipated by the government. It is important that the government and the Low Pay Commission consider the financial burden they place on independent retailers – and provide appropriate support.
Other challenging and costly policies are also affecting independent retailers. One such policy is the rollout of workplace pension auto-enrolment. Many independent retailers had to outsource auto-enrolment and payroll, adding to the already high cost resulting from minimum employer contributions.
The NFRN calls for:
The government to review the impact of the living wage and auto-enrolment on small and micro businesses and to assess the level of increases scheduled.
Sugar Tax
The NFRN has joined forces with several industry associations, representing more than 400,000 people, to fight against the government’s proposed sugar tax. The ‘Face the Facts, Can the Tax’ campaign is supported by a coalition of British businesses who have come together to highlight the damaging economic consequences of the tax. We urge the government to rethink the policy and focus instead on proven solutions that will address obesity. The group includes soft drinks manufacturers, wholesalers, small shops, newsagents, restaurants, bars, and pubs. They are warning the tax will do nothing to tackle obesity, and risks causing thousands of job losses and higher prices for those who can least afford it.
13 October 2016 The NFRN has reiterated its calls for education rather than regulation in its response to the government’s consultation on the proposed sugar tax. In its submission, the NFRN has warned that instead of reducing instances of obesity, a tax on sugary soft drinks will only hit hard working independent retailers who are already reeling from higher costs arising from the newly launched National Living Wage, business rates and from complying with the tobacco display ban. The NFRN reminded the government that in Mexico a soft drinks tax only reduced the daily sugar intake by six calories per person. Instead, the NFRN said that consumers needed to be better educated into the effects of sugar and the alternatives available.
NFRN’s Day of Action against the sugar tax
27 September 2016
Nearly 2,000 independent retailers got behind the NFRN’s call for the government to rethink its plans for a sugar tax on sugary drinks.
Since the NFRN’s Day of Action against the proposed sugar tax on Friday 16 September, almost 1,500 store owners have filled out a postcard to chancellor Philip Hammond registering their objection to the proposal and saying no to the tax. A further 459 have written to their MP, warning the move will devastate their businesses while failing to tackle the UK’s obesity problems.
Posters stating that a potential 58p price increase on a two litre bottle of a sugary soft drink will cause shop closures and job losses have also gone up in thousands of stores nationwide.
NFRN Chief Executive Paul Baxter said: “While we understand the government has got to get to grips with rising obesity levels, we believe the proposal for a sugar tax is flawed. That’s why thousands of independent retailers are joining our call for chancellor Philip Hammond to reconsider and come up with a solution that will not threaten the survival of local independent shops.”
#canthetax
Twitter is a great way to get your voice heard, so make sure you follow the campaign on the NFRN Twitter page and by using the hashtag #canthetax.
#PayPointPayFair Campaign
A letter to energy regular, OFGEM, has also been posted. It warns of the invidious situation PayPoint retailers now find themselves in and calls for an immediate investigation.
The NFRN escalated its dispute against payment service provider, PayPoint, by urging its 9,000 members who operate terminals with them to write to their MPs asking them to raise concerns in Parliament about the decision to reduce the cap on retailer’s commissions. Independent retailers play a vital role in ensuring consumers have access to over-the-counter payment and collection services, but it is inconceivable that they are expected to operate at a loss.
In letters to MPs, many retailers are considering removing terminals from their stores, denying vulnerable and elderly customers the opportunity to pay bills, top-up keys for their electricity or gas metres, or pick up their benefits.
Plain Packaging
We submitted concerns made by newsagents and convenience stores that the introduction of plain packaging will provide a boost to counterfeiters and the illicit market.In turn, this will have a negative impact on legitimate and responsible businesses as well as public health.
Learn More:
The Fed Insights

So we can better help our members the Federation needs to understand the members’ businesses and the challenges that they face. Through our surveys, both regular and in response to events, we ask our members to tell us what is impacting on their businesses, what help they need and how they see the independent retail sector developing.
Consultation Responses

The NFRN responds to a wide range of government calls for evidence and consultations. Our responses will be published here.
Knife Sale Guidance
