'Sack Sugar' call over small firms taunt

ANGRY Huntingdonshire small business owners have demanded the resignation of one of the Government s newest Ministers. Members of the Federation of Small Businesses have demanded the head of former Amstrad boss Lord Sugar, now the enterprise tsar in Lor

ANGRY Huntingdonshire small business owners have demanded the resignation of one of the Government's newest Ministers.

Members of the Federation of Small Businesses have demanded the head of former Amstrad boss Lord Sugar, now the 'enterprise tsar' in Lord Mandelson's business, innovation and skills department, following his comments that unsound small companies were 'moaning' that banks would not lend them cash.

FSB Huntingdonshire chairman Malcolm Lyons said: "The Federation of Small Businesses is extremely disappointed by the comments made recently by Lord Sugar about small firms.

"Despite being appointed by the Government to champion business in the UK, Lord Sugar seems to have no grasp of the hard work small businesses do and the role they play in employing six in 10 of the country's private sector workforce and contributing to more than half of UK GDP.

"Lord Sugar appears to have let his TV personality from 'The Apprentice' take over, and the language he has used to describe this country's small business owners is hardly appropriate given his current role.

"Members of the FSB have been in touch to complain about Lord Sugar's recent performances around the country, and we have to call that he resign from his position. We urge the Prime Minister to appoint someone with a greater understanding of, and more empathy for, the small business sector.