Politics LIVE: Andy Burnham sparks fury after tax bombshell in Gary Lineker interview_c
The incoming prime minister has prompted criticism after suggesting there will be tax rises.
Andy Burnham is set to enter No 10 within days (Image: GOALHANGER)
Andy Burnham has sparked a backlash after hinting at tax hikes in an interview with Gary Lineker. The incoming prime minister said he “might be having to ask for a little more” and declined to rule out a wealth tax.
But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Andy Burnham isn’t even Prime Minister yet but he’s already talking about raising your taxes again.
“We are heading for another summer of chaos with Labour obsessing about who they can tax to pay for more benefits. It doesn’t matter who is in charge, the problem is the Labour Party.”
Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride added: “Burnham should be reassuring people about his plans but instead every time he speaks he fuels more speculation about a fresh tax raid.
“Rachel Reeves has already raised taxes to a historic high – how can Burnham possibly think what we need is yet more taxes? He’s going to push our economy to breaking point.”
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Tories blast council shake-up
Sir James Cleverly branded the new council boundaries “clearly jerrymandered” as he criticised Labour’s local government reorganisation.
The shadow local government secretary said: “This is blatant. These changes, like so many of his (Steve Reed’s) decisions, have been driven by party politics…
“Nothing in today’s statement has done anything to dispel the belief that this is purely partisan. Many communities have been left in limbo, while Labour councils have been allowed to redraw the map on which future elections that they will be engaged in will be fought.”
He added: “If he wanted accusations of gerrymandering to be put aside, why on earth did he create such a clearly gerrymandered set of boundaries? The maps speak for themselves.
“In Devon, he’s accepted the proposals put forward by Labour-run Exeter and Plymouth. In Leicester, he has accepted the submissions by a Labour-controlled council. In Nottingham, he has accepted the proposal put forward by the Labour-run city council. I could go on and on and on, but time does not permit. How on earth can the Secretary of state expect anyone to believe that this process has been politically impartial?”
Responding, Local Government Secretary Mr Reed said: “Unfortunately, the facts don’t support the claims that he’s making. The majority of proposals that I’ve just outlined today as decisions have cross-party support.
“I accept that reasonable people may agree or they may disagree with the decisions, but the important thing now for residents is that we move ahead to realise the savings.”
