Retailers call on Burnham to address business rates, costs and crime

Trade body the BRC made the call in its newly launched Buy into Retail Manifesto, ahead of Burnham becoming prime minister next week.

The BRC said that government ambitions to power up the economy, reduce worryingly high youth unemployment and turn high streets into “a symbol of Britain’s renaissance” can only be achieved if businesses have the confidence to invest in areas such as jobs.

Retail, as the UK’s biggest private employer and an industry that provides a first step up the career ladder for many people, can help Burnham deliver his pledge to “create good growth in every postcode” if action is taken to bring down employment costs and reform the punitive business rates system, the BRC maintained.

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Retail is where the economy shows up in everyday life. It is where millions of people earn a living. Retail is part of the everyday economy, touching every community across the UK.

“When retail thrives, more people are in work, investment flows into local communities, and fierce competition drives prices down for families. But cumulative costs and fragmented policy decisions are holding the industry back. Retailers have absorbed £6.5bn in additional employment costs since 2024, as well as billions more in new packaging taxes, business rates, and rising electricity costs. The consequences are clear: fewer jobs, less investment and higher prices for consumers.

“Andy Burnham has made collaborating with business to drive growth, high streets, and living standards central to his ambition. Retail is a key partner to deliver it: with the right policies, retail can drive investment, support jobs in every postcode, and keep household essentials affordable. Our manifesto offers a path for Mr Burnham to support the millions of people that rely on retail every day.”