The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has urged Labour to curb extra business costs, in the run-up to the general election.

CBI director-general Sir Digby Jones, believes that business has suffered enormous tax increases over the past year and that there should be “no more business taxes” imposed by the next government, whatever its colour.

The employers’ body claims that business taxes have gone up by £50bn since Labour came to power in 1997, and that red tape has raised the cost of employing people by £5bn a year.