Keir Starmer is unveiling a late payments bill in Parliament that would require larger companies to pay small suppliers within a set deadline. Reporting states that, during the announcement, Starmer uses the phrase “backbone of the economy” to describe small businesses. Other coverage of the same event says small business owners are frustrated by the repeated use of that description by the government, even as policy changes are introduced. The bill’s central measure, as described across the articles, is a 60-day payment requirement for large firms paying smaller suppliers. The aim is to address delayed payments that can affect cash flow for smaller companies. The coverage focuses on both the policy proposal—mandating payment timelines—and the political messaging surrounding small business. Overall, the sources describe the bill’s planned enforcement approach through a fixed payment period and highlight the tension between government rhetoric and small business views.