Today was business day in the General Election campaign with the three main party leaders staking their case to the CBI Conference in London.

The leaders of the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats all spoke to industry chiefs and all made grand promises over what they would do if they won a Commons majority on December 12.

From cuts in employer National Insurance contributions to a free apprenticeships for the green economy, the offers were plentiful.

Current prime minister Boris Johnson pledged to a cut in national insurance of up to £1,000 for around 500,000 plus businesses.

A rise in the research and development tax credit rate by one per cent to 13 per cent was also promised as was a one-point rise to three percent in tax relief on purchasing or leasing buildings.

He confirmed Sajid Javid would remain chancellor if a Conservative government is returned but ruled out any further cuts to corporation tax which was due to fall again this year.

The cut from 19 to 17 per cent has been postponed in order to have more money available to invest in front-line services.

"Let me remind you that this saves £6bn that we can put into the priorities of the British people including the NHS and we have already cut it from 28 per cent to 19.

"We proudly back businesses across this country because they are creating the wealth that actually pays for the NHS and it is because the NHS is the nation's priority, and because we believe emphatically in fiscal prudence."

On Brexit he said: "Let's not beat around the bush - big business didn't want Brexit. You made that clear in 2016 and this body said it louder than any other.

"But what is also clear is that what you want now - and have wanted for some time - is certainty.

"So that you can plan and invest, so you can grow and expand, so that you can create jobs and drive prosperity."

"Whilst you didn't want it, the people did vote for it. And so it was for politicians to deliver it."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tackled the accusation that a Labour government would be anti-business.

"It is sometimes claimed that I am anti-business, actually this is nonsense you're going to see more investment than you've ever dreamt of," he said.

"It is not anti-business to be against poverty pay. It is not anti-business to think large corporations should pay their taxes. It is not anti-business to want prosperity in every part of the country."

"You're going to have the best educated workforce you could ever have hoped for."

He also revealed plans for a climate apprenticeship programme that would train 80,000 people per year for careers in the green economy.

He also spoke about his party's nationalisation plans that include putting broadband internet and the railway system under public ownership.

Mr Corbyn said it was "a norm" for a European country to have nationalised industry and revealed plans for a Business Development Agency to help SMEs get off the ground.

The Liberal Democrats' leader Jo Swinson will tell business leaders this afternoon of her desire to keep the UK in the EU, saying that Britain will be more successful if we remain in the European Union.

She called her party the "natural party of business" before slamming the efforts of both the Conservatives and Labour.

"With the Conservatives in the pocket of Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn stuck in the 1970s, we are the only ones standing up for you.

"Because we believe that any form of Brexit, whether it's hard or soft, blue or red, will be bad for jobs, business and our public services.

"We believe that being part of one of the most successful economic blocs in the world is the best guarantee we can have for the future success of our businesses and of our country."

All three of the UK's main nationwide political parties are set to reveal their full election manifestos this week.