Green mayoral candidate most 'on message for small businesses' says FSB

Green mayoral candidate most 'on message for small businesses' says FSB

Green MP Siân Berry is the most "on message" candidate for next week's mayoral election, the Federation of Small Businesses' London Policy Unit has said.

In a mailing to the FSB's London members, the Federation said: "There is a strong case for saying that the Green candidate Siân Berry is most 'on message' with what we are saying, followed by Boris Johnson for the Conservatives, with Lib Dem Brian Paddick trailing in third place ahead of current Mayor Ken Livingstone."

The current London Plan states that the capital's population is set to rise to up to 8.7 million by 2025, and sees a need to create an additional 847,000 jobs. Commenting on this, the FSB said: "In reality, from 2005-2007, a staggering 64% of new jobs have been created by self-employment.

"It is micro-businesses and the self-employed who will be the key to reducing social exclusion and to boosting economic well-being."

The Federation applauded a number of Ms Berry's policies, including proposals to make 50% of trading space in new developments available to small businesses at affordable rents and to bring greater levels of transparency and accountability to the Greater London Authority.

Phil McCabe of the Forum of Private Business (FPB) told More Than Business news that tackling the congestion charge must be a priority for whichever candidate is elected on 1 May.

"We know that small businesses are keen to enhance their sustainability, but this can only happen if they are given the right kind of support from both central and local government," he said.

"The FPB would urge the mayor to get to know the capital's small business community to be able to genuinely support small firms in London and campaign to reduce the ever-growing dual burdens of tax and red tape."

A full list of candidates is available on the BBC News website.