MORE than 100 small and medium-sized business owners in the North-East have voiced support for the Conservatives’ economic plan.

The 130 names were on a list of more than 5,000 small and medium-sized business owners across the country who expressed support for the Conservative-led Coalition by signing a letter published in today’s Daily Telegraph.

The signatories include Rick McCordall, managing director of bakery business Olivia's Artisan Foods; property boss Ajay Jagota, and Russell Borthwick, former managing director of Trinity Mirror in the North East, who is named on the list issued by the Conservative Party press office as the MD of Press Ahead. 

David Cameron, who hasn’t visited County Durham, Tyneside or Wearside during the General Election campaign, said the small business community was "the backbone of our economy".

Labour says the Tories "let down" small firms by failing to boost finance.

Business spokesman Chuka Umunna said the government had overseen an increase in business rates of around £1,500 and Labour would cut - then freeze - the rates.