Burnham's Business Rates Adviser Proposes £9bn Tax Cut
Andy Burnham has appointed Jerry Schurder to lead a review of the business rates system for pubs and hotels. In his previous role at Gerald Eve, Schurder argued that reducing the business rates multiplier by around one-third could cut taxes on businesses by up to £9 billion annually. He described current property tax as an 'increasingly excessive burden' since 1990. Schurder suggested compensating for lost revenue through new taxes such as applying business rates to agricultural land and buildings, which he estimated would raise around £450 million a year. Additional funding could come from the Digital Services Tax or other measures. The review is expected to report findings in March 2027 ahead of the next revaluation. Burnham has already announced a smaller business rates cut for pubs and live music venues, funded by higher charges on vape shops and improved VAT enforcement online.
