The winner of the London mayoral election must "engage with small businesses", one industry body has claimed.
Nick Winch, London policy manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, explained that as two-thirds of new jobs are generated by small firms, the sector is vital for the city's economy.
He said: "We would like to see the administration, of whatever political colour it is, genuinely seek to engage with small businesses and genuinely seek to help them deliver the jobs and prosperity that Londoners need and also the political agenda that the Mayor has."
Mr Winch added that if a large firm such as Barclays Bank were to move its operations out of London then "it'll be the small businesses that pick up the pieces".
Voters in London go to the polls on May 1st.
Labour's Ken Livingstone, Conservative Boris Johnson and Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick are the three leading candidates in the contest to be mayor.
