Burnham vows business cost relief despite tight fiscal constraints
UK PM Burnham promises business cost relief within a difficult financial outlook, signalling business rates reform and rail fare changes.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to do everything possible to ease the cost burden on businesses, while cautioning that his government operates within a difficult financial outlook and limited room for manoeuvre.
In an interview with BBC Radio's 'Wake Up to Money' programme, Burnham said the upcoming budget, scheduled for October 28, would take a broader look at business rates — the tax levied on shops, offices, and other commercial premises. He also indicated he was exploring a remodelling of the rail fares system to benefit the public.
Burnham reiterated his long-term ambition to increase state control over water, energy, and housing services as a means of lowering costs for households.
"I know the cost of doing business is too high, particularly for smaller businesses and I wouldn't want to promise the earth and say all can be solved because I think people can see I'm facing a difficult financial outlook and I won't bring forward things that I can't fully fund," he said.
He added: "I'm signalling going further on business rates. So there are things that we can do, and we'll do everything that is possible for us to do. But I think everyone knows that I'm in a position with limited room for manoeuvre."
Recent opinion polls suggest Burnham has enjoyed a favourable reception in his first weeks in office, a period marked by relatively small but electorally popular reforms. These include a crackdown on high street vape shops, capping bus fares, cutting sales tax on electricity bills, lowering business rates on pubs and music venues, and curbing misleading product discounts and subscription traps.
Burnham described this approach as an "accumulation of smaller things" that could collectively help ease pressure on household finances.
He has previously ruled out tax increases on working people but has not ruled out other tax hikes to fund social care reforms. Along with finance minister John Healey, he has committed to sticking to the government's fiscal rules, which limits the scope for additional borrowing.