Burnham pledges business rate cuts for pubs, cafes and other small businesses
Summary
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, has proposed a 20% cut in business rates for pubs and plans to exempt many small businesses from paying these taxes. His policy aims to support family-run businesses by raising the threshold for paying business rates and funding the cuts by taxing large warehouses and empty shops.Key Facts
- Burnham proposes a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs, and music venues next year.
- Many small, family-run hospitality, leisure, and retail businesses would be exempt from business rates under his plan.
- The threshold for paying business rates would be raised for the first time since 2017.
- A taper system would be introduced to avoid a sudden jump in payments as businesses grow.
- Funding would come from higher taxes on large warehouses run by online companies like Amazon and on empty high street properties.
- Burnham says his party has undervalued the role of small businesses in communities.
- UK Hospitality, an industry group, agreed the system has problems but said other measures like reduced VAT are also needed.
- Burnham plans to run in the upcoming Makerfield byelection to join Parliament and possibly challenge the Labour leadership.
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