FSB: Government loses trust of small businesses

An overwhelming majority of small businesses have said that their confidence in the Government has diminished since the 2007 Budget.

In a snap poll conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), 93 per cent of small business owners said that their confidence in the Government had decreased since last year’s Budget, while just 7 per cent said that it had increased or remained the same.

Ahead of the Budget on Wednesday March 12, the UK’s biggest business organisation is calling for the Government not to go ahead with an attack on family-run businesses’ tax arrangements and a planned 2p per litre rise in fuel duty.

John Wright, FSB National Chairman, said:

“A series of damaging tax rises and increases in red tape in the last year have totally undermined the Government’s position with the UK’s 4.5 million-strong small business community.

“Changes to income shifting rules will force family business owners to create and maintain an unrealistic amount of paperwork on individuals’ contributions to their business. It totally contradicts promises the Government has made about reducing red tape.

“The fiasco over capital gains tax rules and the increases in corporation tax for small companies have also undermined the Government’s credibility. The Chancellor should use this Budget to mend some bridges.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. The FSB received a total of 2657 responses to an online questionnaire about small businesses’ view of the Government’s performance since the last Budget. 2503 small business owners said their confidence in the Government had decreased since the last Budget. 154 said it had increased or remained the same.

2. The FSB is Britain’s biggest business organisation with over 210,000 members. It exists to protect and promote the interests of the self-employed, and all those who run their own business. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk.

Contacts:

For interviews with FSB Chief Spokesman Stephen Alambritis or other senior FSB personnel please contact the FSB Press Office.

FSB Press Office
Andrew Cave: 020 7592 8113 / 07917 628991
Simon Briault: 020 7592 8128 / 07917 628998
Belinda Webb: 020 7592 8121 / 07825 125 695

For regional FSB contacts please go to www.fsb.org.uk/regions