In his first major policy speech since launching his bid to become prime minister, Andy Burnham today (June 29) has promised reform of business rates and the high street as part of a wider package of pledges that promises the “biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen”.
Burnham is currently the only contender to replace Keir Starmer who announced he will resign as prime minister.
Delivering his first policy speech in Manchester, Burnham pledged a more collaborative approach to politics in an outline of his 10-year plan. He said:
“After 10 years of political turbulence since Brexit and 20 years of falling living standards since the 2008 financial crash, Westminster hasn’t been working for people and it hasn’t been working for a very long time.
“In fact, it is broken. And as a result, the country isn’t where it should be. It is stuck in a rut. And clearly we can’t go on like this."
For businesses, he pledged to back “our technologists, entrepreneurs and creatives” to make Britain the “innovation nation of the next decade”.
Business rates will be reformed, he said, because “rather than being a marker of decline, should we not make our high street the new symbol of Britain’s renaissance?”
He also promised to change the way public procurement operates for British businesses.
“For too long, UK public procurement policy has been based on chasing cut price deals around the world, rather than helping our own British-based suppliers become more stable and competitive,” he said.
“No more. From here on, every pound raised from taxpayers will work harder for them, and that approach will apply fully to the defence investment plan.
“We will make sure that all eligible public contracts are subject to proper social value weighting, and we will do that to make sure British-based companies are in a better position to win those contracts.
“This change is essential given the need to build our own resilience in places across the country.
“In an increasingly uncertain world, we need to safeguard sovereign manufacturing and production capability across the country in critical sectors like steel, defence, energy, food and farming, rather than just being prepared to let it go, as we have sadly done in the past.”
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), which works with over 6,000 independent retailers across the UK, says the immediate reaction from its members will be one of cautious scepticism.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: "We have heard promises of business rates reform before, not least from this government, and the reality for our members has been a 15% increase in their bills this year, while retail park businesses have seen their bills decrease. Independent high street retailers deserve better than that.
"We genuinely welcome the intention behind Mr Burnham's commitment, and we would very much welcome the opportunity to work with Mr Burnham and his team to find a true and meaningful solution that supports the high streets that are so vital to communities across the UK."
Goodacre added: "High streets are a barometer for the health and happiness of our towns and cities.
"Getting business rates right is one of the most important things any government can do to help them thrive. We will be reaching out to Mr Burnham's office and stand ready to play our part in making that happen."