News: SMEs call for post-election stability

Phil Orford, chief executive of the Forum of Private Business (FPB), said that regardless of the colour of the new Government, it had to create an environment of "certainty and stability" in order for businesses to grow.

"Many small businesses have faced extremely tough conditions during the credit crunch," he said.

"Just when we were getting a bit of positive news about the economy coming through, the campaigning started. The general election could not have come at a worse time."

Mr Orford