By Mark Kleinman, City Editor
The Conservatives have embarked on a fresh attempt to court backing from the business community hours after the publication of a letter warning against "a change in (economic) course" pursued by a Labour administration.
Sky News can reveal that Lord Feldman, who chairs the party's board and was responsible for organising a pro-Tory letter in Wednesday's Daily Telegraph, has urged other business leaders to add their support for a Conservative government.
"I hope you have seen the Daily Telegraph today that has published a letter with over 100 business leaders supporting the Conservative's policy to lower corporation tax to 20% effective today," Lord Feldman wrote in an email to company executives obtained by Sky News.
"I am writing to ask if you would consider adding your name as a signatory to this letter.
"It is clearly important to send a signal that the business community is behind the Conservatives' long-term economic plan, and does not want to see a change of course."
Sky News also understands that the boss of Boots, the high street health and beauty retailer, was asked to sign the original letter but declined, just weeks after being attacked by Ed Miliband for predicting that a Labour election victory could be "disastrous" for the UK economy.
Stefano Pessina, who runs the US-headquartered Walgreens Boots Alliance, opted not to put his name to the letter because as a Monaco resident he is not entitled to vote in UK elections.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for the company, which employs tens of thousands of people in the UK, said: "As Stefano Pessina is not a UK citizen and does not vote in the UK, he would not sign any letter to support a political party in the UK General Election.
"Furthermore, he has not previously signed any letters to back political parties on such occasions.
"As a businessman, international entrepreneur and investor, Stefano naturally takes a keen interest in the overall business environment in the countries in which he leads businesses.
"With this in mind, he has previously expressed views regarding certain business policies and recommendations, especially regarding the UK economy to which he has been very committed and highly supportive for 20 years."
Mr Pessina was stung by the Labour leader's accusation in February that he was "avoiding his taxes", an allegation he strongly denied.
Although Mr Pessina and others approached about the letter declined to sign it, its publication will reinforce the widely held perception that the Conservatives enjoy far stronger support from the business community than Labour.
Under the Tory-led coalition, corporation tax has been reduced to 20% following a string of annual cuts which Labour has pledged to reverse in order to favour tax cuts for smaller companies.
It is unclear whether the Conservatives plan to publish an updated version of the letter once new signatories are added.
George Osborne, the Chancellor, said the letter represented an "unprecedented intervention" in a General Election campaign.
"A hundred business people, employing over half a million people and leading some of Britain's best-known companies, from Primark to the Prudential and from BP to Britvic and Mothercare have spoken out," he told Sky News.
Some observers suggested, however, that after weeks of corralling support, the Tories would have been disappointed to enlist support from the chief executives of only three FTSE-100 companies: Associated British Foods, BP and Prudential.
The festering row about business support for the main parties further deepened on Wednesday when Chuka Umunna, the Shadow Business Secretary, said that Paul Walsh should not become the next president of the CBI after opting to show support for the Conservatives.
Sky News revealed in February that Mr Walsh, the former chief executive of Diageo, was being lined up to succeed Sir Mike Rake, and his appointment is expected to be confirmed later this month.
A CBI spokesman said: "The CBI is a politically neutral organisation and its senior post holders will always act impartially.
"The CBI has made no announcement about its next president."
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