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Politics
Jun 05, 2026
Analyzed by Llama- 4 Scout 17B 16E Instruct

Burnham Pledges to Review NICs Increase and Cut Business Rates for Pubs

AI Summary
Andy Burnham has proposed a review of the increase in employers' national insurance contributions and a cut to business rates for pubs and small businesses. The plans are seen as a criticism of Keir Starmer's policies and aim to support small businesses and the hospitality sector.

The Policy Initiative

Andy Burnham has said he would consider cutting some employers’ national insurance contributions, and proposed a cut to business rates for pubs and small, family-run enterprises, in his first significant policy initiative during the Makerfield byelection.

The Business Rates Proposal

Burnham’s plans amount to a notable criticism of Keir Starmer’s policies in these areas. In his announcement on business rates, the Greater Manchester mayor said: “Labour have got it wrong on small businesses.”

  • Pubs, clubs and music venues would receive a 20% cut next year
  • Smaller, independent hospitality, leisure and retail companies would have the threshold for paying business rates raised for the first time since 2017

The Impact Analysis

The cuts would be paid for, according to the proposal, by higher levies on giant warehouses operated by online firms such as Amazon, and targeting the owners of empty high street properties.

“I am willing to be honest about where we have fallen short and say that my party has got this wrong in government,” Burnham said in the statement. “They have undervalued the contribution these businesses make to our livelihoods and our communities.

The Prediction

Burnham is hoping to return to Westminster in the byelection on 18 June, a contest triggered after the sitting MP, Josh Simons, stepped aside in the hope that the Greater Manchester mayor would take his place and go on to challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership.

Speaking during a BBC Question Time special on Thursday evening, Burnham confirmed that this was his intention if elected. He said the former health secretary Wes Streeting appeared to want to challenge Starmer, and if that happened “I would seek to join it”.