Over 100 British business bosses back UK Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives ahead of election
Opinion polls ahead of the May 7 election indicate neither Cameron's Conservatives nor the opposition Labour Party will win an overall majority in the 650-seat parliament as millions of voters turn to once fringe parties.
"We believe this Conservative-led Government has been good for business and has pursued policies which have supported investment and job creation," the business leaders said in an open letter published in the Telegraph newspaper.
"We believe a change in course will threaten jobs and deter investment. This would send a negative message about Britain and put the recovery at risk," they warned.
Among the 103 signatories were Philip Green, the boss of Topshop, BP's chief executive Bob Dudley, entrepreneur Luke Johnson and Tidjane Thiam, the outgoing boss of Prudential who is due to become chief executive of Credit Suisse.
The closest British election in at least a generation has flummoxed seasoned politicians and City of London financiers who are poring over opinion polls and Westminster seat predictions to see who might rule Britain.
(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge)