Brown loses support of small business

Friday 27th June 2008, 9:47AM BST.

Brown loses support of small business A poll of 9,000 small businesses reveal 96 per cent are disappointed by Gordon Brown.

As the PM celebrates his first year in power, a poll by the Federation of Small Business (FSB) showed the extent of small firm’s disillusionment in Mr Brown.

At the head of the crisis is the handling of changes to capital gains tax and the axing of the ten per cent taper rate, followed by recent petrol price increases.

“With the end of a period of relative stability, small business confidence in the government has plummeted in the last couple of years,” said John Wright, FSB national chairman.

“Employment, tax and fuel policies have left many small firms feeling that their concerns are not being taken seriously enough.”

He added small businesses were losing out to the interests of larger firms.

“All we see is government consulting big business, with small businesses being left out of the loop,” Mr Wright explained.

“But small businesses produce over half of UK GDP and it is important that their needs are addressed if we are to get through the current economic difficulties.”