21/07/2026
Dear Prime Minister Burnham,
Congratulations!
Now here's what you can do to help Small Businesses, the biggest employer in the UK and the most neglected and overlooked by all political parties.
3 things that would stimulate growth in SMEs, therefore creating jobs and boosting the economy:
1) Reform Corporation Tax.
It's currently a very blunt instrument. 19% for profits under £250k, 25% for profits above that. Why not introduce a tax free allowance for profits of up to say £10k, just like income tax? This would really allow some breathing space for the smallest companies and start ups. This could be funded by actually taxing companies like Starbucks, but it would probably pay for itself with those profits going back into growth, jobs and spending.
2) Reform Commercial Lease Legislation.
Not many people know that commercial landlords can basically let their properties fester, while domestic landlords are bound by (rightly) strict laws that enforce quality of living standards for tenants. Our landlord can legally get away with our Grade II listed building leaking, rotting, and being unsafe while we foot the bill to make it usable. To boot, lots of the public money in Towns Funds across the country has been used to improve privately owned properties, meaning these taxes have effectively gone back into the pockets of private landlords, boosting the value of their properties at the expense of the taxpayer.
Commercial landlords should be held to better standards. We've sunk around £25k into just making our building safe. We won't see any of that again, but our landlord will be able to lease it far more easily and for more money if he wants next time.
3) The Government should Fund Statutory Sick Pay again.
Since 2014 businesses have footed the bill for SSP, with no refund. Employees also accrue holiday pay while off sick. For a very small business this can be significant especially when understood in the context of the last 10 years of blow after blow financially. Fund sick pay again - it's hugely important for workers to have, but SMEs have become the new Welfare State.
I could go on Andy, but I think these 3 things, along with some of the ideas you're alluding to, could be a very good start.
Life would be dull and colourless without us. But we are dying by the day. Let's hope you help us.
Bec, on behalf of small businesses everywhere x
Martin Lewis Money Saving Expert
Andy Burnham
The Labour Party
Robbie Moore MP
