Andy Burnham sparks backlash as he refuses to rule out tax rises in budget

Andy Burnham was warned against launching a “tax assault on working people” after he refused to rule out hikes in the autumn budget. The Prime Minister insisted he “won’t be unrealistic” about the state of the public finances when pressed about tax rises.

Speaking during a visit to Ukraine today, he told ITV News: “I won’t take risks with people’s jobs or livelihoods or their family finances and I will try to help them in whatever way I can. I will do what I can, but I won’t be unrealistic and people really need to understand that. We are in a challenging position.”

But opposition parties seized on Mr Burnham’s comments, with Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick saying: “Instead of slashing the ballooning benefits bill, scrapping foreign aid to rich countries or getting rid of mad net zero subsidies, Andy Burnham is going to raise people’s taxes.

“He may talk differently, but he’s exactly the same as Keir Starmer.

“The last thing this country needs is another tax assault on working people as they’re already struggling with the cost of living. Reform UK will be opposing Burnham’s tax rises every step of the way.”

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride added: “Andy Burnham became Prime Minister without a plan and has been unable to say where the money is coming from to pay for his commitments, so is now staring down the inevitable barrel of tax rises.

“It doesn’t matter who is in charge, it is the Labour Party itself that’s the problem. As the Welfare Secretary said all they want is to raise taxes to fund more benefits.

“Only the Conservatives have a leader with the backbone and strong team needed to restore confidence in the public finances by cutting debt through our Golden Economic Rule.”

The PM defended policies such as cutting VAT on household electricity bills and capping bus fares at £2 as “funded commitments”.

But questions remain over how some promises, including £5 billion in defence spending which was announced before he entered No 10 and his plans for major reforms to the social care system, will be paid for.

Mr Burnham, who entered No 10 last month, has previously said he will stand by Labour’s 2024 manifesto pledge not to raise taxes for “working people”.

It comes as Chancellor John Healey is preparing his first budget on October 28.

He has promised to “live with the fiscal discipline, within the fiscal rules” ahead of the highly anticipated fiscal event.