Partner Article

Politicians 'don't understand business'

A business lobby group has called on politicians to improve their understanding of the issues facing small firms, after research found that just 9% of politicians have more than 10 years of business experience.

A survey carried out by research agency ComRes and the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) investigated the business experience of politicians from across the UK, revealing that just 13% had spent at least five years in business.

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) said the need for politicians to gain a greater understanding of business was made ‘more pressing’ by new figures which showed the number of firms going out of business rose by almost 10% in the first quarter of 2008.

Phil Orford, the FPB’s chief executive, said: “The fear shared by many business owners is that the legislators responsible for the red tape that hinders them so much do not even begin to understand their needs. “Our members are sceptical that politicians don’t care about anything other than clinging onto power. This research will only further the belief that their elected representatives lack the knowledge required to make a positive difference for businesses, which is all the more critical in the current economic climate.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .