by Trevor Sturgess

The next government has been urged to act fast to end economic uncertainty.

Roger House, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Kent and Medway, said confidence in the economy was key for small businesses.

"The incoming government must act fast and decisively to end uncertainty and to set out its plans for dealing with the deficit and returning us to economic growth," he said.

The FSB had been working with all the parliamentary candidates in Kent and Medway and claimed the new intake of MPs would be aware of the importance of small businesses to the Kent economy.

It would be maintaining contact with the new and re-elected MPs "to hold them accountable for their election promises" and persuade them to back policies that would enable small businesses to thrive and pull the country through the recession.

Meanwhile, Jones Lang LaSalle, which manages Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne, warned that a hung parliament would be a brake on recovery in the housing market. It said house prices would remain static or decline in some areas.

James Thomas, head of residential investment and development, said the election result would reduce house sales. There was uncertainty about HIPS, stamp duty and, for developers, the speeding up of planning applications. Spending cuts threatened the pay and jobs of public sector workers.

"There will be a long list of repercussions after today’s result, and transparency and detail on housing policy is crucial: the sooner this can be provided the better."