{
  "id": 3810090,
  "title": "Sports Direct founder attacks Burnham's 'populist' High Street plans",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/sports-direct-founder-attacks-burnhams-populist-high-street-plans",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-27T20:03:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Business",
    "slug": "bbc-business",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn74mm2jz8jo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Billionaire Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley has criticized Labour MP Andy Burnham's populist policies on cost of living and retail, accusing him of making 'disastrous' business rate decisions and jumping on bandwagons. The entrepreneur sent a letter to the Prime Minister criticizing Burnham's proposal to reduce business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues in favor of increasing them for large warehouses. Ashley described this as 'delusional' and called for a more balanced approach to business rates reform. The letter also criticized Burnham's plans to cut VAT on household electricity bills and reduce business rates for certain firms, stating that they are 'shortsighted' reactions to underlying business challenges. Ashley urged Burnham to use his first Budget to lower costs for employers and change the government's stance on business rates, warning that further reforms are needed to prevent the High Street from being 'further devastated.'",
  "summary": "In a letter, the entrepreneur accuses the prime minister of \"jumping on 'everyday fixes' or bandwagons with his latest cost of living and retail policies.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "City AM",
        "title": "‘Broken promises’: Burnham under fire on cost-of-living plans as energy bills set to surge",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/broken-promises-burnham-under-fire-on-cost-of-living-plans-as-energy",
        "published": "2026-08-26T09:51:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}