A bakery owner has called out Prime Minister Andy Burnham after closing his Chorley store last weekend.
Paul Bowen, owner of Bowen Pies in Chorley and a contestant on The Apprentice 2024, said high operating costs had made his Market Street shop unsustainable, despite taking in nearly £100,000 a year.
He said: "I’m closing a shop that takes nearly £100,000 a year.
"Why? Because it’s just not sustainable.
"And just to be clear, Bowen Pies isn’t closing; we’re closing one of our little shops."
Paul said the closure was part of a wider trend affecting high streets across the country.
He said: "Look around Chorley or your hometown. How many shops have 'to let' signs in the windows?
"Last week, even Poundbakery closed. Now we’re closing this shop.
"Does two bakeries closing within a week not tell you something?"
He highlighted rising business costs as a major factor in the decision.
He said: "Years ago, this shop would tick over and pay its way.
"Now, with employers’ National Insurance, energy bills, business rates, wages and everything else, there just isn’t enough left.
"Personally, I think the increase in employers’ National Insurance has been the tipping edge.
"We were already trying to cover everything else going up.
"Then the Government made it more expensive to employ people."
Paul argued that current policies were choking small businesses.
He said: "We either put prices up, cut hours, stop taking people on or, like we’re doing here, close.
"And don’t get me started on energy.
"Wholesale electricity typically makes up around 40 per cent of a business electricity bill.
"Then you’ve got network charges, government levies and supplier costs added on.
"What are you actually doing to bring those down?"
In the video, which has received 416,000 views on Facebook, he called for urgent government intervention to support small businesses.
He said: "Scrap or significantly reduce employers’ National Insurance for small businesses.
"Reduce business rates, ease the VAT burden and get business energy costs down."
In a direct message to Prime Minister Burnham, Paul said: "Andy Burnham, this one is for you.
"If you are listening, I am closing my store here in Chorley. I can't afford to keep it going.
"Two years ago it was fine ticking over; now I simply can't afford it. But it isn't just me, is it?
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"You need to change now to let businesses survive."
Bowen Pies in Market Street served its last customers on Saturday, September 26.
Paul confirmed that its Harpers Lane shop in Chorley and Chorley Road shop in Adlington remain open.
Andy Burnham and his Chancellor John Healey's first Budget will be unveiled to the House of Commons on Wednesday, October 28, and could contain policies aimed at supporting small businesses.
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