Vote 'No' to An Increase in National Insurance Rates

The Forum of Private Business completed a snap poll of its members last week, and produced its results last Friday.

Unsurprisingly, nine out of ten smaller businesses were disappointed by last weeks budget - and more than two thirds of the members polled stated that they were expecting 'a more realistic budget' to be delivered after the General Election.

Eighty-seven percent of members thought that the Chancellor's budget would not increase business or consumer confidence - and the poll reflected widespread anger at the planned hike in National Insurance rates.

You can't do anything much about the Budget - save to vote for a party that will produce another, hopefully less political and less cynical one - but you do still have time to say 'NO' to the proposed rise in National Insurance Rates by signing the Petition . You can find more information about the Petition on the Federation of Small Businesses website - which, incidentally, is a good, informative, place to wander around in when you have the time.

Please take the time to sign the Petition today. Given the numbers of people who are unemployed at the moment, and its potential effect upon them, the one per cent raise in National Insurance rates is a thoroughly disgraceful idea - and never mind that it isn't scheduled to come into effect until April 2011. This is a tax on jobs - and it's going to mean fewer jobs, slower recovery, and yet more people having to sign on.