Small businesses back Tories in Telegraph letter

On the day David Cameron unveils the Conservatives’ small business manifesto, leaders of 5,000 smaller businesses have signed a letter to the Daily Telegraph in which they say they “would like to see David Cameron and George Osborne given the chance to finish what they have started”.

The firms, which employ nearly 100,000 people across the country, say: “This conservative-led government has been genuinely committed to making sure Britain is open for business.

“They’ve managed to get the economy moving against by tackling the deficit, helping to keep interest rates low and inflation down.”

Later today Mr Cameron will tell an audience in central London that he wants to see 600,000 new businesses start every year by 2020.

“Labour think it’s government that creates jobs,” the Tory party leader will say. “We know it’s the people who take risks, start out on their own, wake up at the crack of dawn to open up their shop and do their books on the kitchen table at midnight, who create jobs.”

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy – and Conservatives are behind them 100 per cent.”

Labour business spokesman Chuka Umunna says that his party would cut and then freeze business rates, which he claims have increased by around £1,500 under the coalition.

“Government scheme after government scheme designed to boost finance for small firms has failed,” he said in an email in response to the letter. “With Labour, the tax burden on small firms will be lower than under the Tories.”