Andy Burnham reveals tax plan to save pubs and high streets

Andy Burnham has signalled that he will introduce a so-called “Amazon tax” with a massive reform of business rates in a bid to save Britain’s high streets. The former Manchester mayor, now prime minister-in-waiting, told Andrew Marr on LBC that he plans to stick to Labour’s 2024 election manifesto promises of not raising income tax, VAT or national insurance personal contributions. But he said he would look at hiking business rates on the giant warehouses which are emerging to service massive online retail companies like Amazon, while lifting high street shops and pubs out of having to pay the business rates. I very deliberately have said ‘no, I'm going to set out a new direction for the country first.’” On taxes though, he noted: “I stick . On Wednesday, he added his voice to demands that the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang is deported. He said: “I often have people say to me, I just scream at the radio, tell us what you would do, and I kind of feel politicians have to answer that call from the public, say what we'll do, but then also work to find common ground with other parties where we can. “Britain does need something different. We've had a decade where politics really has not been working for people at all. We can't do more of the same.” He admitted that his generation of politicians has “failed” and needs to offer something better. open image in gallery Burnham spoke to Andrew Marr (PA) In a dig at Sir Keir Starmer’s style of answering questions , he added: “You can't go around pointing fingers when you haven't been good enough.” He promised to rule . “I've said place first, not party first, problem solved. Solving, not point scoring, long term, not short term, and I think those are three good principles to underpin British politics at a national level going forward.” Mr Burnham would not confirm though that he would support a bank holiday if England wins the men’s world cup. Saying it “would be fantastic”, he noted: “We struggled to beat Congo so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Tory shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: “Britain needs to brace for yet another Labour tax bombshell from Andy Burnham. “Despite more than £60bn of tax rises under Rachel Reeves, sending the tax burden to a record high, Burnham thinks there is still ‘room for movement on tax’.