Pick on someone your own size, FSB tells government

Small business mouthpiece urges the government to leave its members alone in the 2008 Budget

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has urged the government to give small businesses a break in the 2008 Budget.

According to the FSB, small business confidence in the government is at its ‘lowest ebb’ and the organisation is appealing to the government to curb the proposed fuel rise charge and also to leave the tax arrangements for family firms alone.

John Wright, national chairman of the FSB, said: “The past 12-months have seen small businesses receive a series of harsh body-blows from which they are still trying to recover. There was the increase in small business corporation tax in last April’s budget, then there was the CGT fiasco – it cannot be stressed strongly enough just how important small businesses are to the UK economy. It is vital they are given more help to innovate and prosper. More hindrance will only see them, and the UK, shoved further backwards.

“The year has already begun with the threat of a recession which is difficult enough for small businesses to deal with, without having to contend with more obstacles put in the way by the government. This wilting relationship between small businesses and the government needs to be reinvigorated and 12 March will announce whether spring is in the air or whether frosty relations continue.”