Yesterday's budget will have done little to improve frosty relations between government and the business community, it has been claimed.
David Frost, director general of the British Chamber of Commerce, explained that increased taxes will make the UK a less attractive place to do business and that there is a feeling that the government has used the business community as "an easy target".
However, he did have some kind words for government.
Mr Frost said: "It was good to hear the chancellor make specific reference to the SME community and we welcome initiatives such as the Small Firms Loan Guarantee and the plan to impose a limit on the amount of regulation that can be imposed by Whitehall departments."
The fact that the government has set the goal of SMEs winning 30 per cent of all public sector contacts over the next five years is also "heartening", he concluded.
In related news, the BCC claimed on Tuesday that employment law is one of the biggest problems for small firms looking to expand.
