There could be “some room” for tax cuts on pubs, as well as other high-street businesses according to Andy Burnham who is expected to become the new UK prime minister.

The newly elected Makerfield MP was speaking with LBC radio and said that an increase in business rates on warehouses could fund tax cuts for pubs and “some high-street businesses”.

In an interview he said: “So, let me be absolutely clear about that, but there is some room within that manifesto for movement on tax.”

Such a pledge was made last month when Burnham completed his successful by-election campaign to become the MP for Makerfield.

In that he claimed that pubs, clubs and music venues would receive a 20% cut. Burnham added that these cuts would be paid for by larger levies on warehouses operated by online companies such as Amazon.

The UK is currently in search of a new Prime Minister. With Keir Starmer announcing his departure at the end of June, the outgoing Labour leader follows Conservative Party figures Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak in holding and vacating the position during the last five years.

If the newly-appointed Labour MP for Makerfield Andy Burnham does indeed take up the top role in government, as is widely expected, he already has a growing to-do list awaiting him in office. Hospitality will be hoping it gets more attention, and meaningful action, than it did under Starmer and his chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Our news analysis from last month features insight from figures across the beer and brewing industry. They are calling for “meaningful changes” such as fairer taxation and improved market access for small producers. Some are more optimistic than others on the road ahead while one figure, not wanting to be quoted, said that the issue was “beyond Starmer”.