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Small business ignored by Blair in cabinet re-shuffle

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The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has reacted angrily to the Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle, which once again snubbed small business.

The Department for Trade and Industry has been reshaped, yet still the position of Small Firms Minister is notable only by its absence.

FPB Chief Executive Nick Goulding believes it’s another case of the interests of small business being sidelined, “Since the post Nigel Griffiths occupied was scrapped by Tony Blair, the needs of small firms have been moved down the pecking order,” he said.

The Small Firms Minister’s responsibilities were eventually shared out to Minister of State for Industry and Regions, Alan Michaels and Parliamentary Under Secretary, Barry Gardener much to the dissatisfaction of small business. Those positions have now been scrapped in the latest round of ministerial changes.

Overwhelming support

FPB members feel overwhelmingly that small firms should have Ministerial representation at Cabinet level. In a survey of FPB members, 81 per cent of respondents voted in favour of including a Small Firms Minister in the Cabinet.

Mr Goulding said, “Government is increasingly distant from small firms, whilst large business seems to have direct access to decision makers. “We know, for example, the Prime Minister has dined with Sir Terry Leahy,” he added, referring to the boss of Tesco’s trip to Chequers to be wined and dined.

Mr Goulding believes the balance of influence on Government must be redressed, “Sir Terry has had the chance to be entertained at the tax payers’ expense in the company of the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, the clamour for investigation into the practices of giants, such as Tesco, continues to build. Small business is struggling to compete in an unfair marketplace and its cry for help is being ignored by ministers.”

Posted May 10, 2006
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