‘John Healey, if you’re listening, where’s my breathing space?’ Business owner Paul Bowen has criticised the Chancellor’s promise to give ‘breathing space’ through measures in his Budget. #budget #businesses #costofliving

Oct 29, 2026 · 8:46 AM UTC

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The fella has literally just bought his 6th house
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This is the same guy complaining about his profit and minimum wage boasting about buying his 6th home
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Breathing space? He is all over insta bragging about his property portfolio!
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This is what happens when the vast majority of Labour MPs have never even had a real job, let alone run a business
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@GMB Don't feel too sorry for him ... He's coining it in ( February 2026 accounts) - he's codding you . Scooby type demasking may reveal a Reform goon .
Image from Thomas Pained ( Sergeant major) #NAFO) (@Rep4Robbo)
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“I’m not saying we shouldn’t pay staff……….. but I want to pay them shitloads less so I can buy yet another house.”
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So… does this man want more socialism from the government? He should say that.
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If this man can’t afford to pay his staff enough to live on then he doesn’t have a viable business. I recommend that instead of skimming off the labour of his employees to live of the profits, he should go and find himself some suitable work on the new and improved minimum wage.
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This guy is lying his business is fine. He’s upset because he has 6 houses and his 2% is tax increase as a landlord so nothing to do with his pie shop that’s actually doing well.
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This parasite owns 6 houses
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People have been with you for years but they’re still on minimum wage? How are they supposed to live? Apparently you have a property portfolio too, so you clearly aren’t broke, unlike someone on minimum wage.
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He dupped you @gmb
Image from D (@24housemusic)
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He owns 6 houses, but doesn’t want to pay his staff minimum wage. Another rich person getting rich by being greedy and not looking after their staff.
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Think there’s a bit of self-promotion here rather than any serious struggles. Big turnover, owns multiple properties, cash in bank. Plus loyal staff, as he says, wouldn’t be on minimum wages surely?
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Did nobody at @gmb bother to check if this man’s 6 rental properties could afford him some “breathing space”? Or is he just another comedy big mouth with a northern accent?
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Be interested to know how much Bowen Pies received from Furlough scheme, and other government support streams, during pandemic?
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@JohnHealey_MP your budget is another mail in the coffins of small businesses. You have no idea what you've done. #Budget2026
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Another employer complaining about the minimum wage then he goes on to say his staff who have been with him for ages are all on minimum wage that’s staff who’ve helped him to keep a business and he complains they are paid too much
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Why would Burnham "get it". A career politician who aside from a brief stint in journalism in the 90s has never worked in the real world. He's never run a business. In the sense that he has as mayor, he's shown he can bankrupt Manchester, so he doesn't understand financial discipline. Money is something that comes out the tax payer magic money tree. Anyone who thinks "Andy's from the North, he has to get it" has had a slap in the face from reality.
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Your regular reminder that not one member of the Cabinet has ever run a business.
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I sympathise Paul, I am a business owner for 25 years and we have been squeezed constantly by all governments but this government is the cherry on the top. No incentive to invest at all unless you are a data centre getting energy for 20% of the cost we pay. Good luck Paul.🤝
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I do actually feel for this guy. However when asked what pies he sold he responded with 2 or 3 options. Maybe he needs to look at his business model. Also how many young folk go for a pie at lunch? Perhaps time for him to look at changing habits
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No, Andy doesn't get it. Labour doesn't get it..
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Well Done Paul Bowen for highlighting the realistic plight of running a business in the UK today. What does @andyburnham suggest to Mr Bowen?! Universal credit for his employers, closing one of his businesses, taking a minimum wage to survive.
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Moaning about minimum wage going up. Yet you never stop to think about the more money people have the more they can spend. Cost are going up you can’t expect wages to stay stagnant. Then you won’t see any growth. Doesn’t take a genius to work this out. 🙄
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Sums it up perfectly. As a business owner myself I feel his pain!!
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Stop whining and pay your staff a decent wage.
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Fuming he might have to pay some staff a bit more whilst boasting about buying his 6th house 👀
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I called in to Paul’s shop and met him yesterday. Such a nice guy. What a good business, and delicious pies. Everything he said is right. We are virtually at the point where the benefit of owning a business is none existent. A lot of us are just working for a decent wage.
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They don’t really mean it. It’s all guff that the hard of thinking believe. This budget has done nothing for me, apart from increase my tax burden by around £500 a year. @UKLabour are financially illiterate
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This lad has 6 houses. The 'breathing space' wasn't created for people like him
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He's a property investor, what is he talking about breathing room for? Do one, you middle class bellend.
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I'm in Chorley this weekend, I'll pop into Bowen's pies and see if he wants to sell one of his six homes to make ends meet.
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Bang on the money this fella. This government are rotten.
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Exactly! If I never hear the term “breathing space” again in my lifetime after yesterday it’ll be too soon!
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He keeps popping up this fella. Can see him on dragons den soon. Anyone know what his pies are like??
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