Firms urge election candidates to make business pledge

Date: 13th May 2009

Candidates for the upcoming local elections in England should focus on supporting small businesses.

That is according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which believes that all prospective councillors should throw their weight behind imposing automatic rate relief for smaller organisations.

Statistics from the federation show that about £400 million in available business taxation relief goes unclaimed every year.

Local government chairman for the FSB, Roger Culcheth, said: "Small firms are an integral part of our communities, generating wealth and employment."

Mr Culcheth added that the impetus was now with candidates to demonstrate that they realise small organisations "play an essential role in their wards".

A poll by the FSB last month revealed that almost 40 per cent of companies believed the government's budget will negatively affect them, while 70 per cent suggested it would have no impact at all.