BUSINESSES are heavily burdened with red tape and an increasingly complex tax system, claim Tory MPs.

But the Conservatives would make it simpler and fairer, promised shadow paymaster general Mark Prisk at a meeting of the Central Worcestershire and the Vale Conservative Business Breakfast Club on Friday.

Mr Prisk said the next Conservative government would stop using the tax system to tell businesses how to behave and would instead use it just to raise money for the public services.

"Worcestershire people are having to pay the Government's 66 new taxes," said Mr Prisk, who is the MP for Hertford and Stortford.

"And businesses in the county have been hard hit - not just by higher bills, but also by the growing complexity of the tax system itself.

"For too long under Labour, small and family firms in particular have been paying more tax - and facing the costs of implementing an increasingly complex system.

"The next Conservative government will work to reduce the costs of the system to free Worcestershire businesses to get on with running those businesses and looking after their customers instead of working for the taxman.

"The Conservatives will work for a simpler, fairer and more open tax system."

An audience including Mid-Worcestershire MP, Peter Luff, and Wyre Forest's Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate, Mark Garnier, welcomed the remarks.

"I think everyone enjoyed the meeting and I know Mark Prisk really appreciated the useful comments made in the question and answer session afterwards," said Mr Luff.