Burnham pledges to 'honour his manifesto' and not raise taxes in first budget
Burnham played down the idea of the public being whacked with major tax hikes, suggesting he’s so far been changing prioritised and reorganising other budgets to fund his plans
Andy Burnham’s indicated he won’t raise taxes in his first budget later this year, he’s told LBC.
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The Prime Minister’s insisted that just because he wants to show people he’s bringing hope and change, it doesn’t mean he’s going to have to hike taxes to pay for it.
He played down the idea of the public being whacked with major tax hikes, suggesting he’s so far been changing prioritised and reorganising other budgets to fund his plans.
Speaking to LBC on his first foreign visit to Ukraine today, he said that he would “honour that manifesto” which would mean no raising income tax, VAT or National Insurance.
When asked whether the public should expect more tax rises in his first budget, he replied: “No, it doesn’t mean that.”
He insisted that his new government was providing people with extra help with the cost of living, pointing to the £2 bus fare cap, and cutting VAT on bills.
Mr Burnham said he has done this by “changing some of our priorities” and finding money within existing budgets, by “reprioritising existing programmes”.
He added: “I think the public would expect me to do that. Where I can help, where I can do something to take that little bit of pressure off, that is exactly what I will do.”
When asked if the public will expect a big fiscal moment later this year with lots to advance his agenda of hope and change, he suggested that it might be tough to make big moves at this stage.
Mr Burnham said: “Obviously people can see the challenging nature of the financial outlook and we will approach it prudently and carefully and we will always make sure that we put people's security first.
“We won't take risks with people's finances or their pensions or their homes, but we will at the same time try and help with the cost of living, the cost of the basics that people are finding expensive.
“So we're working on that now and we'll set it all out at the budget.”
Mr Burnham could still raise taxes outside of the triple lock of tax promises in the Labour manifesto.
Former Chancellor Rachel Reeves was accused of straying from the manifesto when she hiked National Insurance on employer contributions in her first budget.