Yes, apologies for mentioning Christmas this early in the year! However, with everything that’s going on at the moment I think that we are all entitled to hope for some ‘good cheer’ right now.

After all, with Brexit outcomes uncertain, the global economy unsteady and the government reneging on small-business-friendly promises such as its pledge to abolish Class II National Insurance contributions, it’s hardly surprising that confidence has been dented. In fact, the latest research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows that nationally, small business confidence has dropped markedly, with West Midlands-based small exporters reporting falling international sales.

The research also shows that nationally, confidence among the self-employed has fallen to an all-time low.

Small firms desperately need some Brexit clarity before Christmas - with a deal that works for them and for all businesses. That means easy cross-border trade, access to skilled employees and funding streams protected. The number one priority should be to ensure that the transition period that we’ve fought for is nailed down by the end of this year.

If we reach the Budget and things are still up in the air, the FSB will be calling for additional financial support for smaller businesses as they prepare for life after March 2019. Not least because this Government needs to reflect on its recent track record. It includes the broken promise on Class II NICs, failure to take full responsibility for delivering a pensions dashboard and threats to the New Enterprise Allowance. Little wonder that the self-employed are once again questioning whether this administration really is on their side.

The upcoming Budget is a decisive moment for this Government. Does it want to be remembered as an administration that backed businesses, or one that was complicit in stifling their ambitions? That’s the question that Ministers should asking themselves in the weeks ahead. Let’s hope they get the answers right!