Red tape, crime and the minimum wage all feature in the retail industry's election wish list, published today.
Prime minister Tony Blair was expected to announce the date of the election on Monday, but decided to postpone the announcement following news of Pope John Paul II's death on Saturday.
This will not affect the election date, however, and pundits believe Blair will request May 5 for polling day. Protocol states that the prime minister must ask the Queen's permission to set the date.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is calling for sympathy from political parties in their manifestos, in light of worsening economic conditions such as unsteady house prices and flagging consumer confidence.
In its own manifesto, the group is calling for:
- Full and rapid implementation of the Hampton Report to cut the burden of regulation on retailers
- No return of business rates to local authority control
- An end to above inflation national minimum wage increases
- Stronger penalties to deter retail crime
- Removal of disincentives to the wider use of renewable energy
Kevin Hawkins, director general of the BRC, called on political rivals to grab the retail vote, which is made up of 280,000 outlets and 2.8 million people.
He said: "Anyone can make pledges and plans to ease the burden of business rates, taxes, regulation and red tape, but everything depends on whether promises are kept and plans implemented. They must not be left on the shelf to gather dust.
"Retail is the heartbeat of the economy, making a vital contribution to economic growth. But in 2005, with ever increasing costs and a slowdown in consumer spending, retailers face tougher trading conditions and some challenging times ahead."
