LABOUR figures and economists “raised eyebrows” yesterday after over 100 of Britain’s richest bosses published a letter of supporting Conservatives.

An open letter published in the Daily Telegraph was signed by the millionaire owners of some of the best-known high street shops.

The paper’s front page headline read: “Labour threatens Britain’s recovery” and listed the chief executives of Primark, Iceland and Ladbrokes, as well as celebrity fat cats Duncan Bannatyne and Sir Stuart Rose among the signatories.

But controversy quickly spread as the expected next president of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) — a body allegedly proud of its political neutrality — was found on the list.

Former Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh was one of the 103 people issuing a call for continuity and warning that change “would send a negative message about Britain and put the recovery at risk.”

But Labour took the letter in its stride.

“No-one will be surprised that some business people are calling for low taxes for big businesses,” said shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna.

“That’s nothing new and under Labour Britain will have the most competitive corporation tax rate in the G7.

“But while the recovery may have reached some firms it hasn’t reached many others.”

Speaking to the BBC about the CBI scandal, Mr Umunna added that while the matter “did raise an eyebrow” it was ultimately “an issue for the CBI.”

The letter’s signatories including insurance company Prudential’s boss Tidjane Thiam, who was paid a whopping £11.8 million last year.

Fellow supporter Costa Coffee chief Andy Harrison raked in £6.3m — around 400 times more than an average barista.

Economist Andrew Fisher told the Star that the bosses demand for even lower taxes was shocking.

“By slashing corporation tax — already the lowest in the G7 when elected in 2010 — this government has redistributed tens of billions of pounds away from public services and into the pockets of an elite of shareholders,” said Mr Fisher.

“Workers’ pay is 10 per cent lower in real terms since 2008.

“It is clear that this is the union of wealth extractors thanking their political wing for its service.”