‘MPs greedier than bankers’

Small businesses are more outraged by the greed of politicians than that of bankers.

In a poll conducted by business advice website SmallBusiness.co.uk, 42 per cent of respondents say that politicians are the most avaricious group of individuals, with 35 per cent believing it to be bankers.

Marilyn Stowe, founder of Stowe Family Law, says, ‘If businesses acted like MPs, Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) would be down on us like a ton of bricks. To make things worse, businesses around the country are being hit with tax hikes.

‘I am deeply worried that the public will show their disgust by means of the ballot box, and extremists will be the overall winners.’

Adrian Maxwell, MD of coffee machine manufacturer Fracino, comments, ‘I’m not surprised that MPs have fared so poorly in this poll. Their expense claims have robbed taxpayers and I have been appalled to discover all that they have been getting away with.’

Margaret Wood, managing director of glazing manufacturer ICW UK, says, ‘I’m extremely disappointed that the revenue and taxes we as businesses and individuals have worked so hard to create for the benefit of the country seem instead to have benefited [MPs].’

Of the 220 respondents, only eight per cent believe that large corporations are the greediest group, with eight per cent pointing the finger at HMRC and seven per cent nominating lawyers and accountants.