Reform Treasury Spokesman Robert Jenrick has criticised Andy Burnham's new cabinet, saying the Labour Party has simply replaced one set of clowns with another.
Burnham's cabinet under fire
Jenrick highlighted that the new cabinet includes a convicted fraudster, Louise Haigh, running the "Office of the Prime Minister." He also noted that the new Energy Secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, is even more zealous about net zero than Ed Miliband, and the education secretary once described talk of grooming gangs as "dog whistle politics."
Half of Burnham's cabinet, including the Prime Minister, served under Gordon Brown. Jenrick argued that while Burnham promises to do politics differently, it feels awfully familiar.
VAT on energy bills
Jenrick acknowledged that Burnham pinched Reform's policy to scrap VAT on energy bills, but said it is not enough. The saving equates to households saving the price of a second class stamp a week. Reform UK would go further, taking £200 off energy bills by scrapping green taxes and ditching net zero subsidies.
Jenrick criticised Burnham for only cutting VAT on electricity bills, ignoring the 86% of homes that use gas or oil. He questioned why Burnham does not cut VAT on their bills as Reform has called for.
Numbers don't add up
Jenrick argued that Burnham's numbers don't add up. He claims to pay for the VAT cut by scrapping Digital ID, but that policy was never funded, so there are no savings. Jenrick warned that the rest of the money will inevitably come from tax rises, calling it "Burnhamomics" and comparing it to Rachel Reeves' fantasy economics.
He noted that Burnham has called for £38 billion in tax rises, or £3,450 for every family, and has refused to rule them out. Jenrick concluded that with the same people and policies, this Government will go the same way as the last.
