Sun and Daily Mail both launch campaigns to save small businesses

The Sun and The Daily Mail have both launched similar campaigns to support small business through the economic crisis.

The Daily Mail went first yesterday with its campaign, Fair Deal for Small Firms. The paper outlines an eight point charter for small business also including the Government giving small firms the right to defer VAT, National Insurance and PAYE by six months and asking that the Government brings back ‘business rate relief’ which offered a 50 per cent discount on empty commercial property.

The Sun’s campaign – Backing British Business – launched today has the support of Apprentice star Alan Sugar. The red top has drawn up a seven-point manifesto demanding immediate action to ‘east the credit crunch pain of nearly five million companies”.

The Sun’s demands are very similar to the Mail’s including deferring tax, and also include UK consumers sourcing local products wherever they can.

Secretary of state for business Peter Mandelson and Conservative Party leader David Cameron have both backed the campaign. Cameron said: ‘I congratulate The Sun campaign to support small businesses, which employ millions and fuel local economies. We must help them, and fast”.