MORE than half of firms in the North West expect profits to fall under a Labour Government, a survey claims.

And more than 40 per cent of those questioned believed they would have to make redundancies if the minimum wage of £4.15 was introduced. A similar number are unconvinced that a future Labour government would not be influenced heavily by the unions and believed that industrial relations would be affected.

"The opinion polls would indicate that Labour is on its way to Downing Street but it would appear that the business community is not quite so enthusiastic," said David Howarth, managing partner of auctioneers and valuers Singletons who commissioned the survey.

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