Marks and Spencer chief urges Chancellor John Healey to cut business taxes

The chief executive of Marks and Spencer, Stuart Machin, has publicly called on Chancellor John Healey to cut taxes and support business growth ahead of the upcoming Budget, the Daily Mail reported. Machin criticized previous Labour economic decisions, describing them as disasters and a crushing disappointment for businesses, colleagues, and customers. [1]

Writing in the Daily Mail, Machin urged Healey to reverse what he called the mistakes of the previous two Budgets. He said the Chancellor must restore hope in industry, remove restrictions on businesses, and put money back into the pockets of the public. The warning comes directly ahead of the first Budget under Prime Minister Andy Burnham. [1][4]

Burnham has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party since July 2026. He previously served as the Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 until 2026 before entering Parliament as the Member of Parliament for Makerfield in June 2026. [4]

The intervention from Machin adds pressure on the government's economic strategy. Related coverage by AOL indicated that the upcoming financial policy decisions remain a critical test for both Healey and Burnham as they prepare to deliver the new Budget. [1][2]