Andy Burnham became the UK’s fifth prime minister in four years today, after standing unopposed to replace Sir Keir Starmer.

Same party, but very different leaders in terms of style, so we can expect a few changes.

Standing outside 10 Downing Street this lunchtime, Mr Burnham spoke of his intention to rebalance and “rewire” the country, devolving power, building council houses, and ending rough sleeping.

But what do people in our area – which has a Conservative council, a Liberal Democrat MP and a Labour mayor – think he should do? What should be his priorities?

We asked social media users on our Facebook page the question ‘What is the first thing Andy Burnham should do as Prime Minister?’, and were deluged with more than 1,300 responses from all over the country.

By far the most common reply was ‘call a General Election’, but – as another poster pointed out – voters elect a party, not the prime minister.

So we asked members of the local business community what they think Mr Burnham’s priorities should be. This is a selection of their answers. 

Zara Jackson, managing director, Network Scientific, Harrogate

Small businesses are so important for our economy, creating the majority of private sector jobs, but unfortunately a lot are struggling with higher NICS [National Insurance contributions], business rates and other increasing operating costs.

I hope the new PM will focus on easing these pressures and supporting SMEs back to growth. Supporting small businesses is one of the most effective ways to reduce unemployment and drive economic growth in the UK.

Paul Rawlinson, co-director, Bakeri Baltzersen, Harrogate

Speaking as a small business owner I think what we need from this government is a little bit of hope and a plan that makes sense.

You don't achieve growth by increasing the cost of doing business through additional taxes, added red tape, reduced immigration of skilled workers and stripping away incentives to invest.

The high street and hospitality sector needs to see some action to inspire confidence, and dealing with the unfair business rates system, which they promised to replace in their 2024 manifesto, would be a good place to start.

Dr Rebecca Crallan, owner, The GreenHouse, Ripon

I'd like to see Andy Burnham champion small independent retailers and hospitality businesses in places like Ripon, as they bring both jobs and character to our high streets. 

Lower energy costs and clamping down on unscrupulous energy brokers would be a great start; revisiting 'Making Tax Digital' which imposes a heavy compliance cost (in time and money) on small businesses, and simplifying the tax system, would be another way we could spend more time on serving customers rather than doing paperwork.

Martin Mann, chief executive, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce

Harrogate district businesses do not need grand gestures from the new Government, they need the Harrogate line finished, transport powers that do not stop at an invisible boundary, and a fair deal on energy for the hospices and charities our community relies on.

These are practical, affordable asks that have the opportunity to make real differences across the board.

Philip Allott, managing director, Boardroom Matters Ltd, Knaresborough

Business confidence is at its lowest since the pandemic, due to rising energy costs, increased corporation tax, business rates, NI increases, the increased minimum wage and tougher employment rights. The Starmer Government saw businesses as a cash cow and the new Prime Minister Burnham must quickly reassure businesses that he gets it.

Mr Burnham must urgently do something to help SMEs which represent over 95% of businesses and especially the hospitality sector where pubs and restaurants are closing in North Yorkshire every week. This could include cutting VAT for those in hospitality to 10% and giving a firm commitment to all businesses not to raise further businesses taxes including hidden taxes like IPT. For any business creating additional new jobs, I would ask him to give the business a 12 months break from employers’ national insurance, as it would help the firm and reduce government spending on unemployment benefits, creating a win-win for all parties.

Businesses need a breathing space to grow and you can’t do that by trying to leverage even more tax from them.

Mirte Boot, interim head of [progressive think-tank] IPPR North

Today we heard some of the boldest words from a new prime minister to date. Andy Burnham knows very well the status quo isn’t working for our communities. His calls for transformative change by targeting the cost of living, empowering people in every postcode, and remodelling the economic system are desperately needed.

But now is not the time for empty promises, with those words must come action.

In announcing his plans to end rough sleeping and echoing our recent research pushing a radical housing-led solution to homelessness, he has signalled he is willing to work at rapid pace to support those in need.

We must now see that same pace in his work to rebalance the power in this country, moving it away from the halls of Westminster and into the hands of everyday people.

Guy Phoenix, managing director, Fresh Mango Technologies (UK), Ripon

Successive governments have piled more tax, regulation and administrative burden onto small businesses, which are the engine room of the UK economy. 

Andy Burnham’s priority should be to reverse that trend, simplify the business environment and give entrepreneurs the confidence to invest, hire and grow.

Scott Mackintosh, director, Converta

Andy Burnham’s first priority should be to stop treating successful, employment-intensive SMEs as an easy source of cash. We employ 40 people, turn over around £3 million and continue to grow, yet we can feel as though we are going backwards: clients pay us in 60 or even 90 days, while HMRC demands VAT and PAYE to its own timetable – with interest and potentially significant penalties if we cannot bridge that gap – on top of higher Corporation Tax, rising wage costs, business rates and an employer National Insurance rate now at 15%, payable from a threshold cut from £9,100 to just £5,000.

A £3 million turnover business employing 40 people like us is disproportionately penalised compared with one employing 10, not because it has generated more sales or profit, but simply because it creates more jobs. 

If the new Prime Minister genuinely wants growth, he must make cashflow a central test of business policy, align NI rates more fairly and tax collection more realistically with how companies are actually paid and answer a question many employers are now asking: with every cost increasing and public services continuing to struggle, what exactly is our return on investment?

Pollution

Away from the world of business, Tom Gordon, Lib Dem MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, sent us a press release about one of the first things he thinks Mr Burnham should tackle: river pollution. He said:

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