Andy Burnham's business rate cut will come too late for some pubs who are already facing closure after Labour's "crucifying" tax raids. The Prime Minister said on Thursday morning that he will cut business rates for pubs by 20pc from April next year. Paul Stanford, of The Railway Tavern in Norfolk, said Mr Burnham's move was "absolutely not enough" and called for relief to be backdated. 'Not making any money whatsoever'Small businesses currently start paying business rates at £12,000, a threshold that has been frozen since April 2017. "The biggest disadvantage for pubs versus supermarkets relates to VAT, where supermarkets pay zero on food sales while hospitality venues, including pubs, pay 20pc.