The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) says it's all very well making working life easier for families but politicians need to think about small firms, which are "already drowning in red tape".

It's making its point as the party conference season gets into full swing, with Labour meeting in Manchester this week.

Spokeswoman Carol Undy said: "Small businesses are often in the vanguard of new family-friendly policies as the workers and the boss are usually in the same room. They can therefore work out ways of working to suit the work/life balance much more easily than in a large business.

"However, when the Government gets involved in this equation, it can create antagonism that was not present before. What was once a good-natured compromise becomes a confrontation."