New research has revealed the Coalition’s true impact on Britain’s small businesses, with data showing how voters in the constituencies of the three main party leaders have fared since 2010.

With the electorate preparing to head to the polls this week, the figures highlight the contrasting fortunes of small businesses between north and south ahead of Thursday’s vote which is widely expected to deliver a Hung Parliament.

In Witney, where the PM David Cameron is standing for re-election, 482 companies were incorporated in 2010 – the year he stood in the Rose Garden with Nick Clegg to announce the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition.

Working out at six companies formed for every 1,000 people in the electorate, or almost one each day that year – more than a quarter – 128 – have since been dissolved, while just over half – 255 – were trading five years later.

Meanwhile in Doncaster North where Ed Miliband is defending an 11,000-strong majority for Labour, the story is markedly different. 292 companies were founded in 2010 – four for every thousand voters. Of those, just 96 – one third – were trading five years later.

In Sheffield Hallam, where the Deputy PM Nick Clegg is hoping to be re-elected for the Lib Dems, the 297 new companies incorporated in 2010 have fared somewhat better, with half – 147 – trading last year and less than a quarter – 70 – having been dissolved.

The figures compare to statistics from Companies House which show that 396,000 companies were registered nationally in 2010/11, or 6.3 companies for every 1,000 people in the UK, compared to the 324,000 which were dissolved.

The data was compiled by business information website Company Check (http://companycheck.co.uk/). Founder Alastair Campbell, said: “With just days to go before the election, the data shows that when it comes to small business survival rates since 2010, in these three constituencies at least, politics and location have both played a part.

“All three politicians may be household names across the country, but on Thursday they each have to answer to their own local electorate who will be holding their record to account.

“Along with the rest of the UK’s business community, I will be watching the result closely to see the impact it will have on small businesses over the next Parliament.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Company Check (http://companycheck.co.uk/) is the largest source of data on UK companies and attracts three million unique visitors each month who, between them, carry out more than 200 million searches each year for due diligence, checking up on customers and suppliers, researching competitors or tracking their own businesses.

It is the only affordable way for small businesses and consumers to perform credit checks on other companies without a contract or the hard sell. More details and interviews are available on request – contact pr@companycheck.co.uk or call Rob Tomkinson on 07723602254/ 0115 242212)

Workings

PM David Cameron

Incumbent MP for Witney (78,220 electorate)

• Active – Accounts Filed 2010: 255
• Company is dissolved: 128
• Company not trading: 7
• Dissolution (First Gazette): 13
• Dormant Company: 1
• Financial Statements too old: 2
• In Liquidation: 1
• Non trading: 74
• Voluntary Arrangement: 1

Deputy PM Nick Clegg

Incumbent MP for Sheffield Hallam (72,855 electorate)

• Active – Accounts Filed 2010: 147
• Company is dissolved: 70
• Company not trading: 2
• Dissolution (First Gazette): 7
• In Administration: 3
• In Liquidation: 35
• Non trading: 29
• Voluntary Liquidation: 4

Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband

Incumbent MP for Doncaster North (70,032 electorate)

• Active – Accounts Filed: 96
• Company is dissolved: 112
• Company not trading: 1
• Dissolution (First Gazette): 7
• Financial Statements too old: 4
• In Liquidation: 1
• Non trading: 71

Companies House data: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20141104103730/http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/about/pdf/companiesRegActivities2010_2011.pdf