Business opinion split on impact of upcoming General Election

PA51/10 When it comes to discussing the potential effect of the upcoming General Election on business growth, it seems that many small- and medium-sized business owners simply cannot agree. The issue has split opinion in the latest UK Business Barometer quarterly online survey, run by The University of Nottingham Institute for Enterprise and Innovation (UNIEI), and sparked more than 100 disparate comments speculating on what the political future may hold for the economy. The latest (UKBB) asked respondents for their views on whether people should wait until after the General Election before starting up or expanding a business. It followed a recent interview on BBC"€ s Working Lunch with Theo Paphitis of Dragons"€ Den fame, who said that entrepreneurs should not "€oetake a gamble"€ because the UK is "€oein no man"€ s land"€ and "€oepoliticians will not say what they"€ re going to do about the economy"€. He advised people not to rush into anything but to take their time. Respondents to the survey were unable to reach a consensus on the subject â€" one-third agreed highly or reasonably highly that it would be better to wait, while 41 per cent disagreed either totally or to some extent. This was also reflected in its sister survey the UK Business Adviser Barometer (UKBAB), in which 45 per cent agreed that now is not the time for expansion, while more than one-third (38 per cent) disagreed either totally or to some extent.