A group of prominent British chefs and restaurateurs has thrown its weight behind Labour candidate Andy Burnham, citing his long-standing commitment to cutting VAT on hospitality as a lifeline for an industry they describe as being at “full breaking point.”
Tom Kerridge, the restaurateur and BBC presenter whose pubs have three Michelin stars, said he hoped Burnham would become prime minister. “Andy Burnham has backed a cut to VAT and as Manchester mayor he represents one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the UK with a growing food scene,” Kerridge said. “This is somebody who understands nightlife, food, hospitality and entertainment, he sees it as the lifeblood of creativity.”
Kerridge added: “It’s looking like there may be a future leadership contest and this is someone the whole of hospitality should get behind.”
Burnham, who is standing as the Labour candidate in the Makerfield by-election and is expected to launch a challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership if he wins the seat, has called for the VAT rate on pubs, restaurants, hotels, and bars to be cut from 20% to 10%. He has said the lower rate would align the UK with European norms. In France, Spain, and Italy, hospitality VAT is 10%; in Germany it is 7%.
The Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, has also said he would cut hospitality VAT to 10%. But Kerridge said he disagreed with Farage’s proposal to fund the cut by reinstating the two-child benefit cap. “This is an easy photo opportunity for Nigel Farage to stand there with a pint and take advantage. Funding it by reinstating the two-child cap would push more children into poverty, which I do not support,” Kerridge said.
The chef said hospitality venues were closing at a rate of 21 per week because of hikes in business rates, employer national insurance, and the minimum wage, as well as rising energy bills and food inflation. “We have a country that is being run by spreadsheets in the Treasury as opposed to operators,” Kerridge said. “There are many people in government who are trying to understand hospitality. Andy Burnham has an understanding of it. It is perhaps the Treasury and Rachel Reeves who lacks understanding.”
Thomasina Miers, co-founder of the Wahaca restaurant chain, said: “I think he really understands not only hospitality but because he is working in such an incredible devolved area, it has such a thriving restaurant industry. I think Andy Burnham does get it.”
Miers criticized the current Labour leadership’s approach. “The government has clobbered young people, it feels so misguided, they talk about helping the worker but every policy they are doing is making it harder for people to get work. The national insurance tax felt particularly perverse.”
The Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks, who owns the Black Swan at Oldstead and Roots in York, said: “I wholeheartedly support Andy Burnham’s comments on VAT – it feels like our industry is finally being heard. It’s a relief to hear someone at government level finally advocating for us at a time when our industry is at crisis point with more and more independent hospitality businesses closing each day. We need to bring our VAT rates down to match those across Europe and we need to do so urgently.”
Sacha Lord, the entrepreneur and Burnham’s adviser who has been on the campaign trail in Makerfield, told The Guardian: “He has always supported this view. A VAT reduction is the one single mechanism that can save many hospitality businesses and jobs. I strongly maintain that view and will be pushing Andy to keep to his commitment.”
Burnham has long campaigned for a VAT cut for pubs, restaurants, hotels, and bars, and has fostered a lively hospitality scene in Manchester. He campaigned for the sector during the Covid crisis. Kerridge said: “Hospitality is now at full breaking point. It has now been bled dry. It is one of the highest-taxed industries. If Andy can do with the country what he’s done with Manchester, it would be great.”