AT the heart of this election is an issue which we all face in our own lives – budgeting. Britain was the worst prepared of all countries for the global recession. We were the first in, the last out, and it has left us with a crippling level of debt.

Our budget deficit – the difference between what our government spends on running the country and providing services; and the income it receives from tax revenues – means that for every £4 spent on services, the government borrows £1.

This cannot go on. The next government must walk a tightrope between cutting waste and stimulating businesses.

Business will play a vital role by providing more jobs, and plugging that budget deficit. Conservatives want to help businesses, and that does not mean increasing national insurance contributions, which is a tax on jobs.

We want to reduce business taxes and the burden of regulation that overwhelms every business under Labour. Crucially, we want to make sure that those who lend us money continue to do so at the current rates of interest.

If lenders think that Britain will struggle to repay their debts, then they will charge a higher rate of interest. If the cost of borrowing goes up, we all pay more on our mortgages, our credit cards and our overdrafts. The Pound will come under more downward pressure and this will stop investors from overseas setting up businesses in the UK.

But my priority, as MP for Wyre Forest, has to be our local economy, local businesses and local jobs.

Unemployment is rising faster than elsewhere; average wages are lower; industrial sites lie empty.

I will work with our business leaders to help them to maximise opportunities through local partnerships and business organisations. We need to find a new direction to replace the carpet industry. I will act as ambassador for Wyre Forest to attract funding, investment, jobs, and opportunities.

With 27 years experience of business, investment and economics, I have the skills. After all, if the man of the moment when they downscaled the hospital was a doctor, the man of the moment when business needs help will have to be a businessman.

If we don’at seize the moment now, Wyre Forest’s recovery will be slower than elsewhere. But if we act now, Wyre Forest can become a beacon of excellence. It is time to get down to business.