Political indecision is bad for business, say senior bosses

The lack of a definite outcome to the election worries many of the top men at some of Britain's leading companies.

STEPHEN HESTER
Chief executive, Royal Bank of Scotland

"The politics of the UK is down to the voters of the UK. What really matters to us is that there is strong stewardship of the economy. The biggest challenge for anyone is to get government finances back under control. But in terms of a hung parliament most of our retail and commercial customers will go about their business as usual."

DOUGLAS FLINT
Finance director, HSBC

"The most important thing is that there is market confidence in the Government no matter how it is structured. It is for those involved in politics to decide how that is achieved. What we want is simply clarity."

DIGBY, LORD JONES
Ambassador for UK Trade and Industry

"What business wants is boring, predictable stability from Westminster. And that's what we now haven't got. I believe that if they get that by Monday or Tuesday there will not be too much of a problem. But if in a week's time it is still a squabble, what we will then get is higher interest rates, which means: where are going get the money from?"

SIR MARTIN SORRELL
Chief executive, WPP

"It is not a good result. I can see very little silver lining. What was needed was a decisive result whichever way it went. We haven't got it. This indecision creates uncertainty which for business is not good. I guess there will have to be another election pretty soon. But whatever happened, whether we had a decisive result or where we are, I think the prospects post-election were always not going to be good. We will go from least-worst economy in Western Europe to worst-worst."

LORD BELL
Chairman, Chime Communications

"Business leaders will sit on their hands, they won't employ people they don't have to, they won't spend money they don't have to. This uncertainty has been hanging around already for six months and the outcome has been no decision. The sensible thing for business is to sit still and let the wind blow over. It will be very bad from an economic point of view."

GEOFFROY DE LA BOURDONNAYE
Chief executive of department store Liberty

"This will make Britain more like a normal continental European country! But seriously, there will have to be another election soon, so the Tories will not want to make any unpopular decisions on raising taxes or cutting expenditure. For consumer confidence, this could be good in the short term. British shoppers are very short-termist so will carry on spending because they will not be suffering from higher taxes or big public sector job cuts."

PAUL LESTER
Chief executive of outsourcing group VT Group

"Increased outsourcing will be an important way for any new Government to save money and drive improved efficiency going forward. The election result does not change this position. Local authorities are already targeting savings of between 15% and 20% and will also continue to pursue this agenda. All the parties recognise that Government needs to reduce its costs and, despite the lack of a clear majority for any one party, outsourcing companies remain in a strong position to benefit from this."