The chairman of the Croydon branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) wants the Government to consider the views of small firms more, because they employ so many people.

Peter Kaminski said no other organsiation could speak on behalf of as many people - just as the union celebrates reaching 200,000 members.

The FSB's new membership figure is larger than the BCC, CBI, and IoD combined and the FSB also directly represents 2.5million employees - nearly twice as many as the UK's largest trade union, Unison.

Mr Kamkinski added: "At a time when the Government is aiming for sustained economic growth and larger firms are relocating overseas, small businesses keep delivering the goods for British workers and the economy.

"We expect policy makers to treat our views with the respect they deserve, given the weight of such a large membership behind it."

The federation is now calling on the Government and other politicians to give them the credibility they say they deserve.

Mr Kaminski added: "The growth of the FSB during the recent past is a truly great achievement. No other organisation can credibly claim to speak authoritatively on behalf of UK small businesses.

"Let there be no doubt that together small businesses are big news, making up more than 99 per cent of all UK businesses.

"We congratulate all the volunteers and FSB staff, in particular the award-winning recruitment team, for achieving continued rapid growth of the FSB membership."