Tory-backing businesses force Brown to bottle it?

It may not just have been Labour's 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 'would not vote' – selected by 11% of entrepreneurs – meaning that, if the UK Business Forums poll represented the result of a real election, David Cameron’s 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: "Our 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 UK's entrepreneurs.

"The 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.

"But 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."

In other findings from the survey, 10% of entrepreneurs said they would vote for the Liberal Democrats while 7% opted for 'other parties'.

Notes to Editors

The research is based on a poll of UK Business Forums members during October 2007.

About UK Business Forums (www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk)

UK Business Forums are the UK’s most active discussion forums for owners and managers of small and medium sized businesses*.

Published by Sift Media, UK Business Forums is home to over 10,000 members and generates over 2,000 posts every week. Topics of discussion include: business finance; marketing & PR; legal; franchising; e-commerce; and the highly popular 'Time Out' forum.

* Based on independent research conducted in May 2007 by 10 Yetis Ltd.

For more information about UK Business Forums, contact Dan Martin on +44 (0)117 915 8638 or email dan.martin@siftmedia.co.uk

About Sift Media (www.siftmedia.co.uk)

Sift Media is a leading business-to-business publisher specialising in online, interactive professional communities.

With a range of services including websites, email publications, industry awards and events, Sift Media delivers original, branded content to over half a million professionals in accounting and finance, HR and training, IT, marketing, customer management and knowledge management.

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