Cynicism - Or Common Sense?

Research undertaken recently by the Forum of Private Business shows that barely a fifth of SMEs believe that the upcoming Budget will have a significant impact on their businesses (only twenty-two per cent are factoring it into their plans for 2010)and that even fewer (nineteen percent) consider that the general election will affect their plans.

According to Thomas Parry, the Forum's Research Manager, most SMEs are more concerned with running a business in a struggling economy than considering the potential effects of a Budget that may well be followed by another Budget straight after the election. Mr.Parry remarked that "I think there's a certain amount of cynicism about this year's budget and this research reflects this."

Personally, I think that common sense rather than cynicism may be the factor behind the 'who cares' and 'what difference' attitude revealed by the research. Whichever party inherits 'the mess', the major concern for SMEs will be to stay in business - and staying in business is therefore what they are (very sensibly!) concentrating on.

What effect that will have on voter turnout is, of course, another matter altogether...