General Election 2015: The ringing business endorsement of the Tories - organised by Conservative Central Office

The joint declaration of support, reported in the Daily Telegraph also included several duplicate names and signatories who were not company owners

David Cameron has said he is not going to “roll over” and let Labour leader Ed Miliband and the SNP’s Alex Salmond wreck the achievements of the last five years (EPA)

The Conservatives faced embarrassment after a letter signed by 5,000 small businesses endorsing their policies and attacking Labour’s handling of the economy started to unravel.

It emerged that the joint declaration of support, reported on the Daily Telegraph front page, had been organised by Conservative Central Office, included several duplicate names and contained signatories who were not company owners.

One firm denied signing the document at all and asked for its name to be removed immediately.

Labour claimed the “shambolic” episode proved the Tory campaign was in chaos.

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The letter, which was orchestrated by Baroness Karren Brady, the Tory small business ambassador who appears on The Apprentice, was designed as a retort to Labour claims that it is the natural party of small business and that the Conservatives tend to represent the interests of large companies.

It praised the party’s commitment to “get the economy moving again” and warned a change of government would “undo all the good work of the last five years”. But the party was thrown on the defensive when the file information on the letter disclosed the document had been compiled in Conservative Central Office.

The Treasury minister, David Gauke, insisted it was “no secret” that there was a page on the party website allowing people to sign the letter.

Analysis of the names on the list included several signatories without any ownership stake in their companies, while there was a succession of multiple signatories, including one man who signed it four times. Another signatory was named as “Stanley Ward Conservative Club”.

The letter was orchestrated by Baroness Karren Brady (AFP) (AFP/Getty)

Meanwhile the Wokingham-based company Aurum Solutions said its sales director, who was listed, had never signed and demanded the removal of its name. It said the company’s policy is to remain politically unaligned.

A Tory spokesman said: “Representatives from over 5,000 small businesses signed up to this letter supporting the Conservative Party. Everyone whose name was published actively signed up to the letter on the Conservative Party’s website.”

The row blew up as David Cameron, campaigning in central London, insisted he felt “passionately” about the outcome of the election. He said: “If I’m getting lively about it, it’s because I feel bloody lively about it.”

His new energetic style came after two Tory donors publicly echoed private complaints from some party candidates over the apparent lack of vigour in Mr Cameron’s campaign style.

Asked the reason for his change of tone, the Prime Minister said: “It’s decision time – that’s what pumps me up.”

The shirt-sleeved Prime Minister said: “When I see those people who work hard and do the right thing, that is what this election is all about.

David Cameron gave an energetic performance in London on Monday after pressure from party donors to up the ante (AFP)

“You are the magic ingredient to the recovering economy, and we’ve got just 10 days to make sure that that magic ingredient and that recovering economy keeps delivering the jobs we want, keeps delivering the growth we need, keeps delivering for the public services we want to provide.”

He said he was not going to “roll over” and let Labour leader Ed Miliband and the SNP’s Alex Salmond wreck the achievements of the last five years.

“We have got a fight on our hands and I am going to win that fight. It’s a battle for the backbone of Britain, that’s what this election is about.”

Name check: Signatories to letter

The letter signed by 5,052 small businesses pledging support for the Conservatives was quickly revealed to have been prepared at Tory HQ after digital analysis showed the author of the document was “CCHQ-Admin” (Conservative Campaign Headquarters).

Aurum Solutions, a technology company, said its staff did not sign the letter and requested its name be removed. More than 40 names were thought to be duplicates including Conservative councillor, Mark Hook. A number of signatories were not small business owners or shareholders but employees of the firms named and one, Graham Baker, was chairman of the Stanley Ward Conservative Club North West.

David Cameron defended the letter saying: “Even 4,999 is a huge number of businesses. I don’t think it is a stunt.”