The UK’s business community has called on politicians to form a functioning government urgently after it emerged that yesterday’s election delivered no overall winner.
The UK’s business community has called on politicians to form a functioning government urgently after it emerged that yesterday’s election delivered no overall winner.
Phil Orford, chief executive of the Forum of Private Business, says, ‘I expect many smaller businesses will be disappointed that the election has resulted in a hung parliament.
‘However, the outcome can’t be changed so it is vital that the newly-elected MPs put aside party politics and work together to come up with a credible system of governance.’
Simon Lawrence, CEO of business information provider Information Arts, agrees that a hung parliament is a disappointing outcome.
Adds Lawrence, ‘Imagine trying to pass contentious but necessary legislation where the parties are trying to leverage their positions – it’s bad enough in my board room, let alone in the House of Commons. The country needs clear and unambiguous leadership from a strong party with a mandate.’
Horse trading
Stephen Bentley, chief executive of direct marketing specialist Granby Marketing Services, says, ‘The more I think about the horse trading that would need to be done to meet everyone’s needs, the more I’m worried that clarity would be lost. A Liberal Democrat-Labour coalition would still be a minority, so the chance of forming strong policy is unlikely.’
Chris Parkhouse, regional chairman of the Institute of Directors (IoD), reiterates the need for urgency: ‘It’s vital that this political vacuum is filled as quickly as possible. The country simply can’t afford an extended period of political horse trading which delays much needed action to tackle the deficit.’
Results so far show the Conservatives as the largest party in the House of Commons with 291 seats, followed by Labour with 251 and the Liberal Democrats with 52. Another 29 constituencies have still to declare their results.
