Speaking to BBC Radio’s Wake Up to Money this morning (12 August), Burnham said the Government would look at business rates more broadly in the Budget, which is due on 28 October.
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He said: “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.
“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.”
Further support
The comments come after Burnham previously told the hospitality sector to “watch this space” for further Government support.
Earlier this month, the Prime Minister said the Government “would like to do more” for hospitality, after confirming a 20% business rates cut for pubs, clubs and live music venues in England from April next year.
At the time, he described the rates cut as a “first step” and said pubs “need to know the cavalry is coming”.
However, sector responses have been cautious, with operators warning the rates cut would not be enough to offset rising labour, energy, food and tax costs.
JD Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin described the measure as a “move in the right direction”, while urging the Government to back the #VATsTheProblem campaign calling for VAT to be cut to 10% for hospitality.
Fuller’s executive chairman Simon Emeny also called the announcement a “positive start”, but said the sector still needed wider business rates reform.
Burnham has previously ruled out tax increases on working people, although he has not ruled out other tax rises to fund wider reforms.
