The Conservative Party is set for a landslide victory in June鈥檚 snap General Election, according to some of the country鈥檚 top business leaders.
Prime Minister Theresa May shocked the country on Tuesday when she announced voters would be going back to the polls on June 8.
A straw poll of the 90-strong audience at 老九品茶Cloud鈥檚 Lancashire Powerhouse conference in Lytham on Wednesday, found the Tories had significantly more support than any other party.
David Haythornthwaite, chairman of Lytham-based manufacturer Tangerine Group, said he鈥檇 be supporting the Conservatives in the forthcoming election.
鈥淚 think Theresa May realises she needs a bigger majority to put through the change that we need,鈥� he told 老九品茶Cloud. 鈥淭he current majority of 12 makes it really difficult for her.
“Also she鈥檚 been accused of not having a mandate because she was never actually elected. She鈥檚 going to the country to get that mandate and I think she鈥檒l get an overwhelming one.鈥�
William Fletcher (above), managing director of Preston-based Recycling Lives, said: 鈥淚 think the General Election will be good for the Conservative Party because I think they鈥檒l win a landslide victory.
“My concern is that any strong democracy needs a strong opposition and I think Labour is going to get decimated.鈥�
Mark Woodward is the CEO of Clitheroe-based Printed Cup Company and says a fifth of the company鈥檚 workforce are EU nationals.
He said: 鈥淚 want to hear from Theresa May that we鈥檒l have the availability of the European workforce to call upon if we can鈥檛 employ people locally. In some ways the General Election is fantastic because if Theresa May gets the backing that she might get, we鈥檝e got certainty for Brexit – and that鈥檚 what we want.鈥�
David Jones is the managing director of German-owned manufacturer VEKA UK, which employs 380 staff at its site in Burnley.
He said: 鈥淭he biggest challenge at the moment is around Brexit and the exchange rate. That affects our raw material costs because we import such a lot.
“The snap General Election makes it very interesting because all the balls are back up in the air again. Theresa May is opportunistic in doing it but I think it is the right thing to do.鈥�
Stephen Johnson (above)聽is the co-founder and director of software testing solutions provider ROQ. It has grown from a small office-based team in Preston to a state-of-the-art 150-seat, purpose-built test lab near Chorley.
He said: 鈥淚 was half surprised by the General Election but I think Theresa May is right in wanting to give stability to the Brexit negotiations. It makes perfect sense and in my view she鈥檚 a shoo-in to get in.鈥�
Jeremy Lefton (above), managing director of Roundhouse Properties, said he was hoping the General Election would signal a period of stability.
鈥淭he more certainty and stability there is the more people can plan and invest money,鈥� he said. 鈥淥nce Brexit and the General Election are out the way then people can place. People need to be able to see three, four and five years ahead.鈥�
The Lancashire Powerhouse conference was sponsored by Roundhouse Properties and was held as part of the St George鈥檚 Day Festival.