Andy Burnham has confirmed a 20% cut to business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues in England, one of a rapid succession of policy moves since he became prime minister. The cut is aimed at halting the decline of hospitality venues on local high streets, and will be partly funded by scaling back rate reliefs for so-called "anti-social businesses", with vape shops singled out as a target alongside a wider push to improve tax compliance among online marketplace sellers.

The measure is expected to cost around £100m a year and save the typical pub an estimated £1,100 next year, with roughly 32,000 businesses expected to qualify, though the largest music venues will miss out; full details are due to be set out in the budget. Downing Street also plans to scrutinise online sellers who avoid tax obligations, building on Burnham's earlier pledge to tax out-of-town warehouses used by firms such as Amazon, with industry figure Michael Kill among those responding to the announcement.