Growing business can bag Burnham a triple bullseye – it’s time for PM to hit the target

‘Deluded’ PM must listen to business ANDY BURNHAM’S honeymoon is well and truly over. On Tuesday he will finally have to stand up in Parliament and tell MPs what his plans really are. Andy Burnham’s honeymoon is well and truly over and he will finally have to stand up in Parliament and tell MPs what his plans really are Credit: Reuters Mike Ashley employs 30,000 people and calls the PM’s ideas on reviving the High Street ‘delusional’ Credit: Getty The weeks of carefully placed soundbites and soft policy initiatives will finally be met with the hard reality of hostile questioning. It is time for some straight talking, particularly on the economy. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Last week Mr Burnham was making sympathetic noises to the business community. He has indicated that helping firms will be one of the big themes when he addresses MPs. Read More from the Sun Says The PM said he was “acutely conscious” of how hard the trading environment is on the High Street and vowed: “I’m trying to make life easier.” But it all sounds like classic Burnhamism. Warm words to lift expectations tempered by the “challenging” fiscal backdrop. His predecessor Sir Keir Starmer liked to call this “realistic hope”. And look where that got him. Most read in The Sun If the PM really wants to help he must cut business taxes and lower the cost of creating jobs. But don’t just take our word for it, Mr Burnham. Listen to the people who actually run big firms. Mike Ashley employs 30,000 people. He calls the PM’s ideas on reviving the High Street “delusional”. Lord Stuart Rose was boss of Marks and Spencer, which employs 65,000 people. He called Mr Burnham’s plans “a lot of b******s”. And today Lord Richard Walker, chairman of the Iceland supermarket which employs almost 30,000, has a direct message: “Make it cheaper to employ people, invest and grow.” If Mr Burnham wants to help employers he must listen to their critical voices. Growing business not only boosts the economy, it also gets Neets into work and lowers the welfare bill. That’s a triple bullseye. Make sure you hit the target, PM. We’ve hit a brick wall RUINOUS energy costs don’t just wreck family budgets. They also hold back our industry. Construction experts say British-made bricks are now so expensive that it is cheaper to buy them from Europe. Last year we imported a staggering 352million. This crushing energy price burden is stifling firms and jobs. As he plans his budget, Andy Burnham should remember one thing: You can’t build a better Britain if it is all made from foreign bricks. Comment now