Andy Burnham makes new business rates pledge after government ‘got it wrong’

PoliticsBusiness & Finance
6 Jun 2026 • 2:05 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Andy Burnham makes new business rates pledge after government ‘got it wrong’

  • Andy Burnham has pledged to cut business rates for pubs by 20 per cent and abolish them for the smallest businesses if he becomes prime minister.
  • He also suggested he could reverse the controversial hike in employers' National Insurance, a policy introduced by Rachel Reeves in Labour's first budget.
  • Burnham criticised his own party's government for 'getting it wrong' regarding the impact of tax rises on hospitality and small businesses.
  • To fund these proposals, he plans to raise taxes on online tech giants and their British warehouses.
  • These policy announcements follow Burnham's confirmation that he intends to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for leadership if he wins the Makerfield by-election.

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