Cameron appointment gets small business thumbs up

Proposed Conservative-Lib Dem coalition could give small firms the certainty they need, claims FPB

Small business backing: David Cameron's appointment got a cautious thumbs up from the FPB

A small business group has already come out in favour of David Cameron’s appointment as Prime Minister last night.

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) gave Cameron’s proposed Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition “a cautious welcome”, claiming the arrangement may give more certainty to small firms.

According to its research, 70 per cent of small business owners were already finding it difficult to plan for 2010, even before last week’s election.

FPB chief executive Phil Orford said the past week had been an “anxious and worrying time for small business owners”.

“Smaller firms urgently need some degree of certainty so they can begin to plan for the future,” he said. “Hopefully, Mr Cameron’s appointment will herald the beginning of a workable government which will ensure economic stability and give smaller firms the confidence to aspire and grow.”

The FPB also re-iterated its call for the new government to scrap the planned National Insurance rise - a policy that seems likely to be pursued by the new coalition.

However the chief executive of reseller European Electronique, Yolanta Gill, was reserving judgement.

“This election will herald a major Government Spending Review which will affect not only publicly funded bodies but also corporate enterprises supplying the Public Sector," she said.

“We wait with suspense to find out how this coalition government will be formed and for the upcoming programme of legislation which will give us a clearer picture of which manifesto pledges will be implemented in the coming parliamentary term."