Andy Burnham has said it is too early to commit to a wealth tax but has not ruled out introducing one when he becomes Prime Minister. The former Greater Manchester mayor is set to be confirmed as the next leader of the Labour Party at a special conference on Friday, July 17, after securing 349 nominations from fellow MPs.
Burnham responds to wealth tax speculation
In an interview with Gary Lineker for Goalhanger, the Makerfield MP addressed speculation about tax changes under his leadership. “I’m not going to rule things out right now,” he said. “I do believe we need a greater sense of fairness and people feeling that things are being done in the right way and a fair way.”
He added: “But at the same time, you know, I don’t want to sort of be perceived as somebody who’s coming in with grudges and agendas and, you know, going to just immediately find or demonise one group or create a new way of dividing people.”
Fiscal rules and tax commitments
Burnham has committed to Labour’s fiscal rules but indicated there may be room for movement on tax within the party’s manifesto, which rules out raising VAT, income tax or national insurance. “Decisions to be taken in time, they’re going to be difficult. I’m not going to shy away from that,” he said. “We are going to have to work quite hard to make sure, you know, we can pay our way. And at some point that might be having to ask for a little more. But, you know, those decisions are not for now. They’re for another day.”
Domestic focus and political reaction
The incoming PM’s policy agenda has so far focused on domestic priorities like devolution, and he has signalled he will not spend as much time on the global stage as his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch warned of a “summer of chaos” with Labour “obsessing about who they can tax to pay for more benefits.” She wrote on social media: “Andy Burnham isn’t even prime minister yet but he’s already talking about raising your taxes AGAIN.”
Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman, Robert Jenrick, said: “Burnham has broken his two-week silence in a hard-hitting interview with… Gary Lineker. He admits people will have to pay more in tax. But he won’t say which ones. He should rule out the 10 taxes – £3,450 for every family – he’s previously supported but has no mandate for.”
