Last night I had a robust conversation with residents from Welford-on-Avon in the historic village hall. Around seventy people of all ages turned up to put questions on their most pertinent issues to me. I pledged to small business owners that I would simplify the tax system and reduce burdensome costs. One of the actions a Conservative Government would take is exempting small business owners from paying national insurance on their first ten employees. As a previous owner of a small business myself, I emphathize with their concerns. I started my business, You-Gov, in a shed and turned it into a public company that employs hundreds of people on three continents. My top priority is to support similar entrepreneurs in Stratford. Another great concern was pensions. When Gordon Brown took power as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he stole five million pounds from pensioners every year. We need to remind him of this every day and alleviate the need for public to pay the soaring pensions for public sector officials. Lastly, residents rightfully condemned the the impact that the economic policies of the European Union are having on United Kingdom businesses. Gordon Brown and the Labour Government have not protected our interests. While the French and Germans can buy British companies, we cannot do the same. It is not fair, and the Conservatives are ready to force the European Union to adopt more open and free-trade economic policies. Every year the EU budget must be approved by all member states, and David Cameron is prepared to use a veto to protect UK interests and gain favourable policies. As a Conservative Member of Parliament I will work non-stop for these concerned residents of Welford-on-Avon and pass laws that help their businesses and improve their standard of living.