Getting political

New figures suggest that more candidates with business and finance management experience are putting themselves forward as prospective MPs because they are disillusioned with existing enterprise policies.
 
Following research from the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) showing that the number of potential MPs with 15 or more years of business experience has doubled since 2008, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) is giving prospective parliamentarians a platform to outline their plans for small businesses.
 
Last year, the IPT revealed that just 7% of prospective parliamentary candidates demonstrated business management or financial services experience.
 
This year, that figure has doubled to 14%. Further, at 37%, more candidates currently work in these sectors than in others. According to the IPT the prospective parliamentarians have even more of this experience than do existing MPs.
 
However, despite the improvement less than half (48%) of the candidates surveyed by research agency ComRes could demonstrate business and financial management experience. Worryingly, just 31% cited business as a political interest while fewer (22%) mentioned the economy.
 
“We should not underestimate the importance of the year ahead,” said the FPB’s chief executive, Phil Orford. “Even when the economy technically comes out of recession many small businesses will be in greater need of funding in order to keep up with demand.
 
“That is not in place at the moment and it will be incumbent on all parliamentarians – new and old – to work to create an enterprise environment that supports business growth rather than hindering it. It appears that, disillusioned with existing enterprise policies, more entrepreneurs are proactively seeking to get involved by putting themselves forward for election.”
 
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