Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleKate DevlinFriday 05 June 2026 19:05 BSTBurnham confirms he will challenge Starmer in Labour leadership bidAndy Burnham has pledged to cut business rates for pubs by 20 per cent and abolish them for the smallest businesses if he becomes prime minister.He also suggested he could reverse the controversial hike in employers' National Insurance, a policy introduced by Rachel Reeves in Labour's first budget.Burnham criticised his own party's government for 'getting it wrong' regarding the impact of tax rises on hospitality and small businesses.To fund these proposals, he plans to raise taxes on online tech giants and their British warehouses.These policy announcements follow Burnham's confirmation that he intends to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for leadership if he wins the Makerfield by-election.In fullAndy Burham pledges to slash taxes on pubs if he become prime ministerThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in