UK business leaders criticise 'patronising' Darling

The UK's political row over National Insurance (NI) rises intensified today as British business leaders dismissed “patronising” claims that they had been fooled into backing the opposition Conservative Party's plans.

British Chancellor Alistair Darling accused his counterpart George Osborne of “peddling a deception” after 23 senior business figures endorsed moves to curb the UK government’s NI hikes.