GB News was cut short for a breaking bulletin detailing a bitter tax blow for hard-working households across the UK. Prime Minister Andy Burnham found himself under heavy fire during Wednesday's edition of the current affairs broadcast as campaign groups tore into the mounting burden facing taxpayers.
Benjamin Elks, grassroots development manager at The TaxPayers' Alliance, voiced his disappointment in the new PM while speaking directly to presenter Martin Daubney following a deep dive into official HMRC figures. Elks said that "this year, we can expect to see a million more people paying income tax, compared to the last year".
Tax squeeze hitting workers hard
With the Express reporting that a typical worker faces an extra £640 on their tax bill compared to just 24 months ago, Elks warned that the squeeze "is having a real impact on people at the worst possible time". Taking aim at the Labour leader's stance, Elks added: "It's really disappointing, actually, for Andy Burnham to bring this up and to row back so quickly on it. He himself cited that this was the thing that was brought up most often on the doorsteps in Makerfield, so he knows that this is an issue for people."
Explaining how pay increases are increasingly swallowed up by frozen bands, he said: "As people get their ordinary pay rises, they are pulled into higher and higher tax brackets. This is a huge amount of money that people are having to give over to the treasury."
Burnham's new pledges under scrutiny
The blistering feedback comes immediately after Burnham entered 10 Downing Street on Monday and unveiled a suite of fresh pledges aimed at easing the cost of living crisis. Just days into his premiership, the Labour leader confirmed plans to scrap VAT on home energy bills, offering an estimated saving of around £45 per year for households. He also announced that single bus fares across England will be capped at £2 from January 1, 2027.
Addressing the transport overhaul, Burnham said in a statement: "For too long, people have said that cheaper transport isn't an option. I don't accept that. I've done it before, and I will do it again now: a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country." He added: "Lower fares will help people get to where they need to - giving them breathing space to help with the cost of living."
