The NFRN has launched an e-petition calling on the government to include independent retailers in England’s carrier bag levy.

The petition follows last week’s government decision to not include small shopkeepers in upcoming legislation on the levy. The 5p levy is already available in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, but the NFRN are spurring on independent retailers to take action and sign the e-petition in order to encourage the government to rethink the England proposals published later this month.

The e-petition is confirming the NFRN’s stance on the carrier bag levy, as initially announced at their 2015 manifesto launch, last month.

Believing the levy will benefit both the environment and small businesses, NFRN Chief Executive Paul Baxter, said: “We believe that all retailers, however small, should be included in the forthcoming legislation. Bringing forward a levy with so many caveats will only lead to confusion and will not result in having the impact we have seen in other countries for the environment.”

The e-petition can be found here.