Andy Burnham pledges to back local businesses in first speech as Labour leader

Andy Burnham has promised to back local businesses, including pubs, in his first speech as leader of the Labour party.

The Makerfield MP was confirmed as party leader at a conference held in central London today (17 July) ahead of being named prime minister on Monday.

Burnham pledged to “take power from Westminster and Whitehall” and direct it to neighbourhoods across the country.

“We want to give your area more power to build council homes, more power to improve your high street, backing local businesses such as the pubs and shops that bring them to life,” he said.

He added: “Make no mistake everybody. I will be a pro-business leader of the Labour party as I was a pro-business mayor of Manchester. We turn places round together. That is the way we ran in Manchester and we will take it to the whole country.”

Burnham also responded to growing speculation around his cabinet, having stated: “Contrary to what you may have been reading, I have not made any decisions yet on who will be on that top team. It reflects all parts of our party, all communities.”

He announced he will lay a path for change starting from next week that will be “the most significant moment in 40 years”.

“It will take us to a country where life is more affordable and all people and places are lifted from where they are now,” he said.

His comments come amid the nationwide VAT’s the Problem campaign fronted by chef Tom Kerridge, which has been calling for government to cut hospitality VAT to 10%, in line with Europe.

Last week, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into the impact of VAT on the hospitality and tourism sectors after the Republic of Ireland cut VAT on hospitality and food from 13.5% to 9% at the start of July.

Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said at the time: “Hospitality is under huge pressure, and we know a cut to VAT would help unlock investment, growth and jobs.

“That’s why we need businesses, employees, customers and policymakers to get behind the VATsTheProblem campaign and support a fairer VAT rate for hospitality.”

In his first major policy speech as Makerfield MP, delivered last month, Burnham also pledged to reform business rates “to support pubs and high street businesses”.

• Keep an eye out on The Caterer next week for an insight into the hospitality industry’s expectations of the upcoming Burnham era.

Photo: amer ghazzal/Alamy