Business honours a good friend

10:38pm Wednesday 21st May 2008

A SWINDON MP has won a coveted business award.

The Forum of Private Business has named Michael Wills, the Labour MP for North Swindon, as the 2008 business-friendly MP/MEP.

Mr Wills headed off competition from 12 other politicians to scoop the accolade, which is sponsored by England's Regional Development Agencies.

The presentation of the award, which recognises the work of politicians who have excelled in understanding and championing the needs of smaller businesses in the UK, took place in a ceremony at Portcullis House in Westminster.

The FPB's national chairman, Len Collinson, presented Mr Wills, pictured, with the award.

He praised the MP for standing up for small firms in Swindon.

"The FPB provides the owners of small businesses with a political voice that they would otherwise not have," he said.

"All of these politicians were shortlisted for the 2008 business friendly MP/MEP award because they were nominated by the business owners who are directly affected by issues such tax and red tape, and who rely on their elected representatives and organisations like the FPB to fight their corner."

In his acceptance speech, Mr Wills emphasised that campaigning on behalf of small businesses should reach across political divides, saying every MP needed to be active in their support, in particular in tackling the burden of red tape.

He was nominated by a constituent business owner after helping him to settle a dispute with the Health & Safety Executive, which had left his farm facing closure.

"I am grateful to Rupert Burr of Roves Farm for nominating me, but I am even more pleased that I was able to be of some assistance to him over the past few years," said Mr Wills. "He is a model entrepreneur and he has made Roves Farm something all Swindonians can be proud of."