Top chefs back Andy Burnham for prime minister to cut VAT on hospitality

Andy Burnham, Labour’s candidate in the Makerfield byelection, has gained support from top chefs and restaurateurs for his push to reduce VAT on hospitality from 20% to 10%, matching rates in France, Spain, and Italy. The campaign, dubbed ‘VAT’s the problem,’ argues the cut would help businesses facing closures at a rate of 21 per week due to rising costs like business rates, energy bills, and food inflation. Tom Kerridge, a Michelin-starred chef and BBC presenter, praised Burnham’s understanding of the sector, calling him a candidate hospitality should back. He criticized Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s similar VAT pledge, warning that funding it through reinstating the two-child benefit cap would worsen child poverty. Burnham has long advocated for VAT cuts, supporting Manchester’s thriving food scene and lobbying for the sector during COVID-19. Sacha Lord, his adviser, emphasized the policy could save businesses and jobs, urging Burnham to maintain his commitment. Other chefs, including Thomasina Miers of Wahaca and Tommy Banks of Black Swan at Oldstead, echoed the support, citing Burnham’s grasp of hospitality struggles. Miers accused the current Labour leadership of failing to address the sector’s challenges, while Banks called for urgent action to prevent further closures. The push highlights tensions between hospitality advocates and Treasury policies, with critics like Kerridge arguing government decisions are driven by ‘spreadsheets’ rather than industry realities.