LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg has thrown his weight behind the Lancashire Telegraph’s We’re Backing Business campaign.

Mr Clegg praised our initiative which was launched last week in partnership with Business Link Northwest in a bid to help the region through the recession by offering advice, meetings and workshops.

Mr Clegg said: “Small and medium size businesses are important because of the number of people they employ.

“The Lancashire Telegraph’s campaign is immensely important too because unless people work together at a local and a national level to do the best for East Lanc-ashire businesses, we will not get through this reces-sion.

“We need to get banks lending again and we need them lending to Lanc-ashire businesses on favourable terms.

“But I also call on the Government to put money into people pockets by cutting taxes for low and middle earners.”

Mr Clegg yesterday began a tour of Burnley with a visit to the car parts plant, in Liverpool Road, Rose-grove, where he was met by staff and Burnley Council leader Gordon Birtwistle.

The factory, which employs 250, has suffered during the recession, with 100 jobs axed before Christmas and enforced stoppages earlier this year.

Plant manager Kevin Schofield said: “We have had problems since last Septe-mber but the Government needs to do all it can to kick-start the motor industry because without demand we cannot do anything.

“Business Link Northwest have been quite supportive in the past and they have been to visit us four or five times.

“However, without the confidence in the market there’s not a lot they can do.”

So far, the Lancashire Telegraph’s We’re Backing Business campaign has been supported by Blackburn MP Jack Straw, Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams as well as Coun Birtwistle.