Pie maker Paul Bowen challenges Budget's "breathing space" promise
The Bowen Pies owner tells Good Morning Britain that rising employment and supplier costs leave him facing higher prices and a personal pay cut.
Good Morning Britain
Story of Why this story? The video opened at a pace of 346,240 views a day, 62 times a normal first day on this channel (5,617).
'John Healey, if you're listening, where's my breathing space?': Business owner criticises Budget
Paul Bowen says he wants to pay his staff properly. What he cannot see is how his business can absorb another increase in costs while getting the relief he expected from the Budget.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain, the Bowen Pies owner addresses John Healey directly: "John Healey, if you're listening, where's my breathing space?"
Bowen says his initial optimism about promises to support businesses and families has given way to a difficult calculation. He says operating across multiple sites means he does not qualify for the business rates relief being discussed. Higher wages and supplier prices, he calculates, will leave him needing roughly £4,000 extra each week.
When a host points out that the wage increase applies to workers over 21, Bowen explains that his employees have been with him for years. His objection is not that they should be paid less, but that the business cannot afford the additional expense.
The Short drew more than 300,000 views before its first full day was over, far beyond the show's usual opening audience for that format. In the comments, viewers discuss raising the personal tax allowance as an alternative to increasing the minimum wage, and how employment costs affect small businesses.
Bowen describes the Budget as another pressure on top of National Insurance increases and energy costs. His response, he says, will involve raising prices while taking a pay cut himself.
Published on Trari
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- Channel
- Good Morning Britain
- Subscribers
- 1,380,000
- Channel views, last 7 days
- 3,006,711
- Channel views, pace per day
- 474,494 (on a normal day: 466,918)
- Video published
- October 29, 2026
- Video views so far
- 314,082 (less than a day online)
- Video views, pace per day
- 346,240
The numbers
Bowen's interview drew an unusually large audience for a Good Morning Britain Short, with a much busier comment section than usual.
💡 Test your knowledge
Which business does Paul Bowen run?
Good Morning Britain identifies Paul Bowen on screen as the owner of Bowen Pies.