Conservative retail grandees Sir Stanley Kalms, Lord Harris and Gerald Corbett have thrown their weight behind Michael Howard's new model Tory army.
Dixons Group founder and president Kalms said Howard's slimline shadow cabinet was the most 'powerful for many a year', with an authoritative financial team supporting shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin.
Kalms, a 'keen supporter' of Howard, resigned as Tory treasurer in June, reportedly after rowing with ousted leader Iain Duncan Smith.
Top of Kalms's hit list for the Tories is to fight the Brussels red tape that he believes is 'choking' business. 'Regulation is tying Britain like Gulliver by the pygmies,' he said.
Carpetright chairman and chief executive Lord Harris of Peckham said Howard has united the party which, when coupled with Labour's track record of tax hikes and public service failures, should help the Conservatives win the next election.
'The economy should be doing a lot better,' said Harris. 'Stamp duty is another tax, every shop we take costs£60,000 and we are being taxed again.'
Woolworths chairman Corbett said: 'The Conservatives are now in the best position they have been in for years. Howard will make a very capable Prime Minister.'
- Oliver Letwin said on Wednesday that stealth taxes were 'sucking the lifeblood out of the business economy'. He will push the Government to pay attention to retailers' needs.
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