Cameron - who has the most important job of all?

INCREASINGLY, SPEECHES MADE BY POLITICIANS are either pointing a finger or deriding the accountancy profession.

Take David Cameron's most recent outcry "People want to know we're not just a bunch of accountants trying to turn around the British economy as if it were a failing company".

Well before making such sweeping generalisations one would have expected Cameron, an ex PR man, to have done some research to back up his assertions. Ask the owners of the five million SMEs, who has done more to support them and advise them during the recession? Their accountant, whether internal or external, would undoubtedly rate much higher than the government.

In fact, if our politicians had half of the knowledge and skills to help businesses that "this bunch of accountants" do, then we would have seen some real measures over the last years to support our businesses and drive the economy forward. Instead we continue to contend with more hot air and half-baked initiatives which on the ground have sent us back into recession.

When businesses are unable to obtain finance, cover the cost of employing staff, obtain credit limits on customers or even get started who do they turn to? The first call is not to the local councillor but to their accountant to see what they can do to help.

I believe that there are more businesses that have survived the recession as a result of sound advice and support from their professional advisers, particularly accountants, than from the measures introduced by any political party.

You see prime minister, what people really want to know is if the government are up to the job in hand and can steer the country out of the economic abyss.

Maybe the next time those in the corridors of power compile their list of the professions to attack they look for substance rather than spin.

Bobby Lane is a partner at Shelley Stock Hutter, where he specialises in helping growing businesses. He also heads up the firm's outsourcing operation, Denver Chase