It may not just have been Labourís negative rating in key marginal seats which forced Gordon Brown to back down on calling an election. New research by UK Business Forums reveals the majority of entrepreneurs would have voted Conservative if the prime minister had announced a snap poll.
The survey on www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk, the UK's most popular online forums for entrepreneurs*, found 43% would have voted for the Tories in an autumn election in contrast to the 29% of small business owners who said Labour was set for their support.
The third most popular choice was ëwould not voteí ñ selected by 11% of entrepreneurs ñ meaning that, if the UK Business Forums poll represented the result of a real election, David Cameronís party would have still emerged the top political party even if Brown had won over the apathetic voters.
Dan Martin, chairman of UK Business Forums, said: ìOur research shows that it is not just increasing Tory support in key marginal constituencies that Gordon Brown needs to worry about. He also still has much to do to win around the majority of the UKís entrepreneurs.
ìThe government has promised to tackle the regulatory burdens associated with operating a successful business and recent meetings between business secretary John Hutton and entrepreneurs show ministers are moving in the right direction.
ìBut the proof will be in the pudding. If, by the time of the next general election, business red tape has been significantly reduced, Labour may well have increased support from small businesses. If not, many entrepreneurs are likely to look elsewhere for help with growing their companies.î
In other findings from the survey, 10% of entrepreneurs said they would vote for the Liberal Democrats while 7% opted for ëother partiesí.
* Based on independent research conducted in May 2007 by 10 Yetis Ltd.
Tory-backing businesses force Brown to bottle it?
It may not just have been Labourís negative rating in key marginal seats which forced Gordon Brown to back down on calling an election
