Andy Burnham has refused to rule out tax rises in his first budget as the Prime Minister warned he “won’t be unrealistic” about the state of Britain’s finances.
Mr Burnham admitted the country was in a “challenging position” but was quick to insist he would take a “careful approach” to the economy.
On his first visit to Ukraine, Mr Burnham defended policy pledges such as cutting VAT on household electricity bills and capping bus fares at £2 as “funded commitments”.
Questions remain over how some promises, including £5billion in defence spending which was announced before he entered Downing Street and his plans for major reforms to the social care system, will be paid for.
Doubts have also been cast over his plan to pay for the VAT cut by cancelling the previous Labour administration’s digital ID scheme after former minister Darren Jones claimed the policy was not costed.
Asked if the public should accept they will have to pay more in tax rises for some policies, he told ITV News: “They don’t necessarily need to accept that.
“What I have put out so far, I wouldn’t say is everything, but they are the first steps and they are significant.”
Pressed on whether he would need to fill in spending gaps with tax hikes, he said: “I will always take a careful approach to things. I ran Greater Manchester for 10 years and we ran a very tight ship with rock solid finances.
“Nothing will change as I come into this role as Prime Minister. I won’t take risks with people’s jobs or their livelihoods or their family finances.
” I will try to help them in whatever way I can, I have already done some things that will help them. I will do what I can but I won’t be unrealistic and people really need to understand that.”
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
Lib Dems call on Labour to fix ‘care funding crisis’ ahead of housing announcement
The Liberal Democrats have cast doubt over Andy Burnham’s social housing plans, calling on Labour to fix the “care funding crisis”.
The Prime Minister has pledged to carry out the biggest council housebuilding programme since the postwar period, with more than 70,000 homes, 60 per cent allocated for social rent, to be delivered across England.
However, Mr Burnham has faced accusation of watering down his ambitions after he previously called for the entire £39billion social and affordable homes programme to be spent on council housing.
Liberal Democrat housing spokesman and MP for Taunton and Wellington Gideon Amos said: “The move to allow councils to bid for funds for social housing is a good first step to helping secure adequate housing stock.
“However, until they address the care funding crisis in local government, very few authorities will be able to benefit from these changes.”
Greens U-turn on plan for police to lose Tasers and batons
The Green Party is due to debate the motion at October’s conference | PAThe Green Party has confirmed it has dropped a draft motion to remove Tasers and pepper spray from police officers.
A proposal was due to be presented at the party’s conference to “withdraw lethal tools and tactics, eg Tasers, pepper spray” from police.
Under the party’s constitution, any member can propose a policy and present it to be debated at the annual conference.
However, the proposal to remove Tasers and batons has since been withdrawn from the final version of the motion, which was drawn up by the Greens’ crime and justice working group.
Conservative Chair throws support behind Ukraine collaboration
Conservative Party Chair Kevin Hollinrake has backed Andy Burnham’s plans for collaboration with Ukraine.
Mr Hollinrake told GB News: “It’s very important we do collaborate with Ukraine in any way that’s helpful to them. We were the first country to provide military support to Ukraine, even even before Putin had invaded Ukraine.
“I think if we hadn’t done that, of course you’d have now seen Putin in Kyiv having conquered Ukraine, looking for further targets. So it’s absolutely right that we support Ukraine and we share technology with them.
“Clearly Ukraine have been superb in terms of developing modern technology, the most effective way to fight on the battlefield. So if we can learn from them, if they can learn from us that well, that’s all well and good as far as we’re concerned.”
Giorgia Meloni issues warning to Kemi Badenoch over Reform UK deal
Giorgia Meloni told Kemi Badenoch she needed to ‘be yourself’ | REUTERSItalian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has told Kemi Badenoch not to engage in any electoral pact with Reform UK.
The Conservative leader is a long-standing personal friend of the Italian Prime Minister, who told Mrs Badenoch “you’ve got to be yourself” during a meeting in Rome.
Mrs Badenoch said at the weekend that a Tory deal with Reform UK would be “monstrous”, adding she wants to emulate Meloni’s success in turning round the Italian economy.
The two women discussed the need to stop wealthy individuals from leaving Italy and the UK because they are the ones who “create jobs and grow the economy”.
Andy Burnham to visit US in September
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is planning on travelling to the US in September to join European leaders in lobbying President Donald Trump on support for Ukraine’s defence.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Mr Burnham said he was “looking forward to going to New York” next month, which is when the UN General Assembly will meet.
He said details of the trip are not yet “fully confirmed” but it is “likely” to go ahead, trip would mark Mr Burnham’s first US visit since becoming Prime Minister in July.