Small Business Backlash Against Government

A new report suggests that the majority of small business bosses blame the government for rising fuel and other costs.

The report, from the Federation of Small Businesses, found that nine out of ten respondents blamed government policy for increasing their financial woes.

Of 9,318 firms polled, only 2.1% said they were satisfied with the government's record, and 1.9% had no opinion.Nearly 90% of those surveyed said government policy is making it more difficult to cope with rising business costs, such as fuel and electricity prices.

John Wright, chairman at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “With the end of a period of relative stability, small business confidence in the government has plummeted in the last couple of years, Employment, tax and fuel policies have left many small firms feeling that their concerns are not being taken seriously enough.”