The chief executive of the London Stock Exchange weighed into the growing political debate over how to revive the UK's flagging economy last night, and told a City of London audience that boosting the UK's small and medium-sized business community is the "only solution" to improving growth.

Speaking at the annual dinner held by SME lobby group the Quoted Company Alliance last night, Rolet said: "The SME market is the only solution to improving economic growth in the UK. Growth is not going to come from the public sector."