What do you want from the Election?

As the election battle starts to heat up and the various politicians try to convince us that they really are the best option for the future, small businesses including retailers are going to be an important target audience.

As key players in the economic recovery, it is important that small businesses are able to emerge, maintain and grow their presence in order to provide economic benefits including revenue and jobs. So what do retailers want from the politicians?

Well, it's clear from this week that the rise in National Insurance is a big no no. Big business moguls, including Stuart Rose from M&S, say that it will essentially be a tax on jobs and a huge blow to the industry, and it would be difficult to disagree. (Interestingly there is an article in the Telegraph today including an admission from the Treasury Secretary that that would be the case - despite Alistair Darling saying it won't. Click here for the full story)

But what else? Well some are asking for protection from increased taxes on property to help those with empty shops, some are asking for reductions in red tape to help encourage trading, others want a postponement of the environmental taxes and others want a commitment to no rise in VAT.

Which would make the biggest difference to you?