11/06/2026
Andy Burnham's pledge to give pubs a 20% discount on business rates is politically clever.
Let's be honest, this is clearly aimed at voters who may be tempted by Reform UK.
And it is easy to see why pubs are being used as the example. Everyone understands the importance of their local pub. They are employers, community hubs, meeting places, music venues, and in many towns and villages, one of the few remaining social spaces.
So yes, a 20% reduction would absolutely be welcomed by pubs up and down the country.
But it does not fix the real problem.
The business rates system itself is no longer fit for purpose.
It often has very little connection to a business's ability to pay. It places a heavy burden on pubs, shops, cafés, restaurants, salons, offices, workshops, warehouses, and other property-based businesses, while many online and out-of-town models operate under very different pressures.
Pubs need help. So do thousands of other businesses on our high streets and in our local communities.
Targeted discounts make good headlines, especially during a by-election, but they are not a substitute for proper reform.
If politicians are serious about supporting pubs and local businesses, they need to go beyond temporary reliefs and headline-grabbing discounts.
