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Tories Continue To Chase Down Business Support

A Labour government would threaten jobs, deter investment and put Britain's economic recovery at risk, according to a letter signed by more than 100 leading business figures.

Senior executives from some of Britain's best-known businesses hailed the Government's economic policies, which they claim show that "the UK is open for business".

The move was orchestrated by Conservative Party co-chairman Lord Feldman, who is continuing to email business leaders asking them to "consider adding your name as a signatory to this letter" .

The top executives - including BP's CEO Bob Dudley and West Ham United vice-chairman, the Conservative Peer Baroness Brady - argue that keeping the Tories in power is the best way to ensure continued growth.

In an open letter to The Daily Telegraph, the signatories, who had been approached by the party to add their names to the letter, said the Conservatives' economic policies have supported investment and the creation of jobs.

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The letter has been signed by at least five former Labour backers, including the chairman of Dixons Carphone and Talk Talk plc Sir Charles Dunstone, and former Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne.

The business figures write: "We believe this Conservative-led Government has been good for business and has pursued policies which have supported investment and job creation.

"David Cameron and George Osborne's flagship policy of progressively lowering Corporation Tax to 20% has been very important in showing the UK is open for business. It has been a key part of their economic plan.

"The result is that Britain grew faster than any other major economy last year and businesses like ours have created over 1.85m new jobs.

"We believe a change in course will threaten jobs and deter investment. This would send a negative message about Britain and put the recovery at risk."

Mr Cameron was quick to welcome the letter tweeting: "Today's #businessletter in the @Telegraph shows job creators support our long term economic plan. Labour's taxes will cost jobs."

Mr Osborne told Sky News: "This is an unprecedented intervention in a British General Election. A hundred business people, employing over half a million people and leading some of Britain's best-known companies, from Primark to the Prudential and from BP to Britvic and Mothercare, have spoken out.

"Their message could not be clearer. We have a Conservative economic plan that is working and is creating jobs and if we change course those jobs will be threatened and the recovery will be put at risk."

Other business leaders to put their names to the letter were Prudential CEO Tidjane Thiam, former head of Marks & Spencer Lord Rose, chairman of the Arcadia Group Sir Philip Green, and Bloomberg chairman Peter Grauer.

Bloomberg was the venue Labour used for its business manifesto launch on Monday, which was overshadowed by a backlash against an advert the party had place in the Financial Times , which used quotes from business leaders about the EU.

A number of the firms quoted were quick to distance themselves from political allegiance to the party.

Lord Rose told Sky News it was an "implicit warning: don't tamper with what is working well."

Shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves said: "The letter to the Telegraph does not mention the Labour Party at all and it's just about one policy: corporation tax.

"It does not mention membership of the EU, which is of course such a big deal to many large businesses or investment in infrastructure or skills but also it does not talk about the small businesses who are going to benefit from Labour's freeze, or cut, in business rates."

On Tuesday Labour pledged to reverse the Government's final cut in corporation tax to pay for a reduction in rates for 1.5 million small businesses.

Mr Miliband, whose relationship with the city has been questioned, today announced plans to take a tougher stance on zero-hours contracts and improve employees' rights.

Under the proposal workers will be able to demand a regular contract after 12 weeks.

Labour also released a letter from "working families" calling for a change of government.

The letter, signed by business chiefs, workers on zero-hours contracts and figures from the entertainment industry, says the country needs a Labour government "to put working people first".

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