MPs' group launches to give business owners 'a voice in Parliament'

A new all-party parliamentary group on entrepreneurship has been launched.

Launched on Monday, organisers say the group will bridge the gap between founders and politicians, ensuring that entrepreneurs can input into policymaking.

In its first year the APPG will focus on four policy areas; enterprise education,·exporting, tax reform and female founders.

A poll of business owners by The Entrepreneurs Network, the group's secretariat, showed that lowering business taxes was the highest on the to-do list with 85% saying it would be a positive move. Cutting personal taxes was also widely supported (79%), as was cutting business regulation (78%).

Alan Mak MP, chair of the cross-party body, said: "The new entrepreneurship APPG will be a key bridge between Westminster policymakers and entrepreneurs across Britain. Economic growth driven by innovation, exports and educational excellence is at the top of the government's agenda."

Philip Salter, founder of The Entrepreneurs Network and an Enterprise Nation adviser, added: "Successive governments have become increasingly supportive of British entrepreneurs, but it's time for politicians across the Houses of Parliament to get stuck into the policies that will make a real and lasting difference.

"We believe key reforms in these four policy areas will go a long way towards cementing Britain's position as a internationally competitive centre for entrepreneurship."