Burnham Pledges ‘Rock Solid Finances’ Ahead of Autumn Budget

During his visit to Ukraine, his first overseas trip as prime minister, Andy Burnham refused to outright dismiss any potential tax rises in the upcoming Budget in October.

When questioned about his spending plans, the prime minister told ITV: ‘I will always take actually a careful approach to things.’

Burnham was pressed multiple times over funding pledges, when he said: ‘I will always take actually a careful approach to things. I ran Greater Manchester for 10 years and we ran a very tight ship, with rock solid finances and nothing will change as I come into this role.’

Having said he would keep to the Labour manifesto pledge of not raising the three big taxes of income tax, VAT and national insurance, Burnham and his chancellor John Healey are facing a tricky Budget.

‘We are in a challenging position, whatever I do will be carefully thought through it will be funded and there will be more to come as we go into the autumn,’ Burnham said.

The prime minister defended his previous announcements including the VAT reduction on domestic electricity bills, and a £2 cap on buses, before stating: ‘What I have put out so far, I wouldn’t say this is everything. These are the first steps that I felt able to make.’

Burnham pushed back from questions on the cost of these plans, stating: ‘Those things are paid for. Those are funded commitments. So that is clearly laid out.’

When asked how the government could afford his previous announcements, the prime minister pointed to the scrapping of controversial digital ID plans.

Burnham said: ‘These are things we can do because I’ve reprioritised. I took the decision early on that digital ID wasn’t the top priority for now.’

The prime minister finished the interview stating: ‘I won’t take risks with people’s jobs or their livelihoods, or their family finances.’

The Budget will be delivered by chancellor John Healey on Wednesday 28 October at 12.30pm.

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