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By Sarah Young and William James
LONDON, April 1 (Reuters) - Over 100 British company bossespublicly backed Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative-ledgovernment on Wednesday and warned a change of course forBritain's $2.8 trillion economy under a Labour government wouldput the recovery at risk.
Opinion polls ahead of the May 7 election indicate neitherCameron's Conservatives nor the opposition Labour Party will winan overall majority in the 650-seat parliament as millions ofvoters turn to once marginal parties.
"We believe this Conservative-led Government has been goodfor business and has pursued policies which have supportedinvestment and job creation," the business leaders said in anopen letter published in the Telegraph newspaper.
"We believe a change in course will threaten jobs and deterinvestment. This would send a negative message about Britain andput the recovery at risk," they warned.
Among the 103 signatories were the boss of Arcadia retailgroup Philip Green, BP's CEO Bob Dudley, entrepreneurLuke Johnson and the outgoing boss of insurer Prudential TidjaneThiam, who is due to become the CEO of Credit Suisse.
The closest British election in at least a generation hasflummoxed seasoned politicians and City of London financiers whoare poring over opinion polls and Westminster seat predictionsto see who might rule Britain.
Labour, whose relationship with business is fraught withtensions over policies which promise tighter regulation for bigbusinesses, dismissed the letter as "nothing new".
"No one will be surprised that some business people arecalling for low taxes for big businesses," said Labour'sbusiness spokesman Chuka Umunna.
"We don't believe, as David Cameron does, in more tax cutsfor the richest in society - the priority is tax cuts for smallfirms, working people and saving our NHS."
In total the company bosses who signed the letter employmore than half a million people.
The CEO of Costa owner Whitbread Andy Harrison, chairman ofengineer Meggitt Nigel Rudd, the chairman of Dixons CarphoneCharles Dunstone and the CEO of oil firm Tullow Aidan Heaveywere amongst the FTSE 100 leaders who signed the letter. (Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
