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New MP's Give Louder Voice for SME's
 If
you feel like the government isn’t paying
enough attention to the needs of small
businesses; then the news that more than
quarter of the new elected MP’s in the House
of Commons have either started their own
business or worked for a family firm could
provide a boost.
The Federation for Small Businesses (FSB)
estimates that over 30 of the 124 new MP’s
have entrepreneurial experience:
The new intake includes a tea importer
(David Davies), a graphic designer (Lynne
Featherstone), a purveyor of Caribbean food
(Stephen Crabb), a video producer (Celia
Barrow) and a fireworks manufacturer (Mark
Lancaster) in addition to the usual
smattering of farmers (two Conservative and
one SNP) and barristers (three Conservative
and two Labour) who are self-employed.
On the Conservative benches a surprising
number of new MPs have built successful
businesses in books – as publishers (Graham
Stuart, John Penrose, and Jeremy Hunt),
printers (Grant Shapps), or retailers
(Philip Dunne of Ottakers Books).
John Walker, FSB National Policy Chairman,
said “Entrepreneurs create jobs and generate
wealth but until now they have been
under-represented in the House of Commons.
With so many new MPs having worked for
themselves this election may have
represented a watershed. We hope
parliamentarians will draw on their past
experience and stick up for the four million
people in this country who run their own
business. We look forward to their
support.”
The arrival of more MP’s with
entrepreneurial experience will help to give
small businesses a stronger voice; and could
help to ensure that more attention is paid
to the effects of new legislation on SME’s.
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