Rubber visit for financial quizzing

George Osborne MP, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, will be quizzed by the owners of smaller businesses on a visit to Manchester.

George Osborne MP, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, will be quizzed by the owners of smaller businesses on a visit to Manchester later this month (Friday, 20 October 2006).

Mr Osborne, who is MP for Tatton, will be questioned whilst visiting a rubber recycling firm in West Gorton.

He will be asked about the Conservative Party's policies towards smaller businesses in the North West and other issues, such as whether the Party will deliver on its pledge to find ways of reducing red tape.

The visit is sponsored by Mace and Jones solicitors, and has been organised by the Forum of Private Business (FPB), which represents 25,000 smaller firms across the UK.

Len Collinson, National Chairman of the FPB, said: "It is very important that senior politicians such as Mr Osborne should be aware of the concerns of the country's wealth creators.

We welcome his visit to Manchester and his willingness to engage in an open discussion with the owners of local businesses." Mace and Jones senior partner Graeme Jump said the law firm is keen to promote the interests of small firms.

"The UK's four million small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy providing twelve million jobs and driving growth and wealth creation,' he said.

"It is critical that the interests of small businesses here in Manchester, the North West and the country are at the forefront of all the major party's priorities." Mr Osborne, who has special responsibility for the Conservative Party's campaigning in Manchester, will tour the factory of FPB member J Allcock and Sons in West Gorton, before meeting a number of owners of local smaller businesses.

Commenting ahead of his visit, the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, said: "Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy.

I believe that Government should be helping those running small businesses, not making their lives harder, as this Chancellor has done.

I'm looking forward to the meeting, and to hearing about and addressing the concerns of the North West business community." J Allcock and Sons recycles materials and supplies products to the polymer industries.

Andrew Rushton, Managing Director of J Allcock and Sons, said: "It will be nice to meet a senior politician face to face and explain the problems smaller businesses have to deal with in terms of red tape and the effects of the Government's decisions." The FPB will also carry out a survey of smaller businesses in Manchester to find what issues concern them and if they believe the Conservative Party could deliver change.

The results of this survey will be presented at a press conference at the end of Mr Osborne's visit.

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