Sports Direct founder attacks Burnham's 'populist' High Street plans
Summary
Mike Ashley, the billionaire founder of Sports Direct, has criticized Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s recent retail and cost of living policies, calling them short-sighted and harmful to businesses. Ashley urged Burnham to lower costs for employers, especially by reforming business rates, and expressed concern that the current plans could damage the High Street.Key Facts
- Mike Ashley wrote a letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham criticizing policies on business rates and worker costs.
- Ashley described Burnham’s ideas as “populist” and “disastrous,” particularly the plan to raise business rates on large warehouses.
- Burnham’s government plans include cutting VAT on household electricity and reducing business rates for pubs, social clubs, and live music venues.
- Burnham has proposed measures to help local councils block new vaping and betting shops and to regulate misleading retail prices.
- Ashley called for a fundamental overhaul of business rates to make competition fairer between physical stores and online retailers.
- Ashley’s business, Frasers Group, owns Sports Direct and recently bought luxury department store Harvey Nichols.
- Ashley warned that without major changes, Britain’s High Street could suffer further decline.
- A Downing Street spokesperson said these policies aim to support British businesses and make essentials like energy and housing more affordable.
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