Thatcher 'would've done more for SMEs in recession than Coalition', suggests report

On the eve of Margaret Thatcher’s Central London funeral, a survey of 10,000 UK-based small firms revealed that the majority felt the former PM would have forced banks to lend to small businesses to aid growth throughout the recession.
 
An overwhelming 82 per cent of small business owners surveyed by Freelancer believed the weight of Thatcher’s personality and her commitment to the growth of the small business sector would have forced banks to lend to SMEs.
 
Almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of respondents blame the Coalition Government for their lack of courage to tackle vested interest, as opposed to Thatcher’s ‘big bang’ reforms for lack of investment and available credit, during difficult economic times.
 
A further 82 per cent believed Thatcher would view the banks as a vested interest to tackle head on, particularly if they received a Government hand-out and did not pass it on to SMEs.
 
The report indicates a general feeling that a lack of support for small businesses is a direct result of the Government’s lack of Thatcher’s key qualities.
 
Thatcher’s own personal experience of helping to run a small business made her a more passionate and logical advocate for their interests, according to 89 per cent of respondents.
 
Thousands of Britons are expected to line the streets of Central London today to bid farewell to the nation’s first and only female Prime Minister to date, with a full ceremonial service and full military honours at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Date published 17 Apr 2013 | Last updated 17 Apr 2013