‘He will be great’: Tom Kerridge urges Andy Burnham to help hospitality ‘thrive’

Tom Kerridge, chef-patron of the two-Michelin-starred Hand & Flowers pub and face of the VAT’s the Problem campaign, has endorsed Andy Burnham to deliver positive change for the hospitality industry if he were to successfully become prime minister.

“I’ve met [Burnham] a number of times and think he will be great. He is somebody who will voice opinions and do very, very well with business understanding, particularly within hospitality – we’ve just got to keep knocking on the door and pushing that pressure until he delivers,” said Kerridge.

Last week, the Makerfield MP hopeful said he would consider reducing some employers’ National Insurance Contributions, alongside a cut to business rates for pubs and small, family-run businesses in his first major policy pledge on the campaign trail.

In this address Burnham added that  Labour had “undervalued the contributions” of small businesses.

Speaking at industry body UKHospitality’s Summer Summit, Kerridge was confident that Burnham would come good on these pledges, bolstered by his tenure as Manchester mayor where “he sees and has seen that if you embrace culture and hospitality things can thrive and grow”.

“He’s said that’s where he needs to be,” said Kerridge, adding that if Burnham were to successfully oust a prime minister known as “Captain Flip Flop, Mr U-Turn” and then renege on his first policy pledge “it doesn’t put you in a position of strength”.

Burnham’s Labour leadership bid notwithstanding, Kerridge said he was confident that the hospitality industry’s bid to cut its VAT bill to 10% in line with Europe is resonating in government.

“I feel we are making progress. There are certain areas within that government that are completely listening and do understand. It’s trying to keep forcing that message into the treasury now,” said Kerridge.

“There are voices in that government, powerful voices, that know something needs to happen.”

Kerridge said that he has had to “make the same decisions” as other hospitality operators in the current climate amid surging taxes, which have driven the loss of 120,000 jobs across the sector and the closure of three venues a day in 2026.

He said that halving VAT for hospitality would give the independent operators the financial headroom needed to “stabilise”.

“Profit isn’t about big businesses making loads of money, profit is oxygen. Profit allows businesses to move and grow and buy new fridges,” said Kerridge.

If the VAT’s the Problem campaign were successful, Kerridge said he expected many businesses may be able to pass cost saving onto customers in a few years time, but the majority would deal with business critical matters first – such as paying suppliers, energy bills and staff.