Mike Ashley slams Burnham’s ‘populist’ plans to revive high street
Retail tycoon Mike Ashley has blasted Andy Burnham’s proposals to revive the British high street as “populist” and “too little too late”. The billionaire Sports Direct and Frasers Group founder has written to the Prime Minister accusing him of failing to tackle the cost of living with “delusional” policies. The causes of the UK’s rising [...]
Retail mogul Mike Ashley has criticized Labour MP Andy Burnham's plans to revive the British high street as "populist" and "too little too late." In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Ashley accused Burnham of prioritizing media attention over practical solutions to help struggling households and businesses. He specifically targeted the Prime Minister's proposed crackdown on business rates, arguing that a warehouse tax would be "delusional" as it could ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers.
Ashley emphasized that addressing the true underlying issues of financial management and supporting growth and entrepreneurship is more crucial than jumping on short-term, media-friendly solutions. The billionaire also criticized Burnham's pledge to deliver "everyday fixes" on the cost of living, such as a £2 bus fare cap and removing VAT on household electricity bills, stating that these measures only address a portion of the problem without tackling its root causes.
Ashley's intervention comes as businesses express increasing frustration with Burnham's cost of living proposals, amidst a backdrop of rising expenses faced by firms across the nation.
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