Shadow Chancellor George Osborne today promised tax breaks for new businesses, if the Tories come into power.

The pledge came after Government figures yesterday showed the UK is in the grip of the longest recession since records began in 1955.

Speaking after a visit to B&Q at the Euroway Trading Estate, Mr Osborne said: “I make this promise to the people of Bradford. If you start up a business in Bradford in the first two years of a Conservative government, you will pay no tax on anyone you employ, up to a maximum of ten employees.

“It will be a huge boost for jobs in Bradford and it will help people get into work.”

The economy has shrunk for a record sixth quarter in a row between July and September.

The 0.4 per cent third-quarter fall takes the total loss of output since the recession began last year to 5.9 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Mr Osborne said: “The Government’s economic policies are failing the people of Bradford. These figures show we are still in a recession and that blows apart the myth that Labour’s recovery plan is working.”

Outlining the Conserv-atives’ plan for West Yorkshire he said the party would create 10,000 apprenticeships, 5,000 places at further education colleges and 6,000 work placings in the region. “We need a real plan to get the country working again,” he said.

Responding to the latest economic figures yesterday, the Chancellor Alistair Darling said: “I’ve always been clear that growth will return at the turn of year, as my Budget forecast confirmed.”

Bradford Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sandy Needham said: “We weren’t expecting to come out of recession this year – although the trends have started to move upwards it is still early days. We have drafted our own manifesto and are looking at ideas that have been put forward by each of the political parties.

“We are interested in looking at how all of the policies would have an impact on businesses.”

Mr Osborne was given a tour of the Bradford DIY store, meeting employees, before holding a Get Britain Working session with members of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in Leeds.