Nearly half of all UK small businesses believe that none of the mainstream political parties represent their interests in Westminster, according to new research.

The Prime Minster has the support of less than a fifth of small firms.

With many feeling that times remain tough, 42 per cent described their outlook for the forthcoming financial year as depressing with no sign of their business picking up; many are looking for a little more support to keep costs lower.

Jonathan Elliott, managing director of Make It Cheaper, the business energy price comparison site, which carried out the research, said: “UK small business owners are extremely disillusioned with this or any future Government. Rhetoric from all political parties is failing to hide the lack of sufficient help available to these businesses, the lifeblood of the British economy, to reduce their cost base.”

“On behalf of our customers we are challenging the Government to use this Budget to show they are thinking about small businesses. With three out of five saying they would implement better tax breaks if they were Prime Minister, it is clear where small businesses feel the Government’s focus should be. This issue could be the difference between winning and losing the general election.”

· The survey found that three out of five (60 per cent) small business owners would make it their first priority to institute better tax breaks for small businesses if they were Prime Minister

· Almost a quarter (24 per cent) said they would lower the cost of employing people and 15 per cent said they would pass a law to shorten payment terms

Jonathan Elliott continued: “After rent and wages, rates are the biggest cost to a business and automatically getting the relief they are entitled to would be extremely welcome. This cash injection could save many small businesses from laying-off staff or closing down completely.”

The research was conducted last week by independent research company Redshift amongst 500 small businesses in the UK.

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