Sports Direct founder attacks Burnham's 'populist' High Street plans

Billionaire Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley has criticised recent cost of living and retail policies from Andy Burnham as "populist reactions".

In a letter to the prime minister, the entrepreneur accused him of "jumping on 'everyday fixes' or bandwagons", while "disastrous" business rates policies and increases to the cost of employing workers were causing businesses to struggle.

He also described a previous proposal of increasing business rates on large warehouses to help reduce them for pubs and clubs as "delusional".

A Downing Street spokesperson said Burnham would "build a new economy that backs British business, delivers growth in every postcode and ensures the essentials in life - like energy, water and housing - are affordable again."

Promises including cutting VAT from household electricity bills and reducing business rates for some firms is "just the start", they added.

Earlier this month, Burnham promised to revitalise Britain's "hollowed out" high streets by helping councils block new vaping and betting shops .

He also brought forward a plan to end subscription traps and ban shops using misleading recommended retail prices, which can make it seem like discounts are larger than they really are.

In Ashley's letter, seen by the BBC and first reported by the Financial Times, , external he hit out at announcements made since Burnham succeeded Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister.