Chefs Back Burnham As Restaurants Demand Relief

Leading UK chefs are backing Andy Burnham’s potential bid to become Prime Minister, amid renewed calls for urgent tax relief for Britain’s hard-pressed hospitality sector.

According to FoodBible, the former Manchester Mayor has signalled that he could seek to replace Sir Keir Starmer following the Prime Minister’s resignation announcement on June 22.

Burnham’s position on hospitality VAT has placed him firmly on the radar of chefs and restaurateurs, many of whom are calling for the current 20% rate to be cut to 10% for pubs, restaurants, hotels and bars.

The issue has become a major talking point for the sector, with chefs backing the “VAT’s the problem” campaign, which argues that a reduction would help small businesses, independent restaurants and kitchens facing mounting cost pressures.

FoodBible reports that Burnham wants to see hospitality VAT reduced from 20% to 10%, bringing the UK closer to rates seen in several European countries. In France, Spain and Italy, VAT for pubs, restaurants, hotels and bars is 10%, while in Germany it is 7%.

Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge is among those supporting Burnham’s stance. Quoted by The Guardian and reported by FoodBible, Kerridge said: “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.”

He added: “This is somebody who understands nightlife, food, hospitality and entertainment, he sees it as the lifeblood of creativity.

“It’s looking like there may be a future leadership contest and this is someone the whole of hospitality should get behind.”

Kerridge also criticised previous government decisions, saying the UK was being “run by spreadsheets in the Treasury as opposed to operators”.

“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,” he said.

Other leading food figures have voiced similar views. Thomasina Miers, co-founder of Wahaca, 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.”

Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks also welcomed Burnham’s comments on VAT, saying: “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.”

FoodBible notes that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also said he wants hospitality VAT cut to 10%. However, Kerridge rejected Farage’s proposed method of funding the measure 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 debate comes at a highly sensitive time for hospitality, with businesses continuing to face pressure from rising costs, labour challenges, energy bills and food inflation.

For chefs and restaurateurs, the question now is whether any future government will move beyond warm words and deliver the structural support they say is needed to protect one of the UK’s most important food-facing industries.