Chancellor John Healey's Budget was designed for Andy Burnham's popularity, not Britain's security or financial stability, according to former Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston. Writing in the Daily Express, Preston argues the Budget avoids difficult decisions on welfare and debt while funding 'gimmicks' like a new £15million misogyny prevention fund.
Defence Commitments Ditched
Preston recalls that Healey previously resigned from government to demand Prime Minister Keir Starmer take defence seriously, a stance Preston admired. However, he now accuses the Chancellor of abandoning his defence allies, saying promises to fund defence 'later on' echo the failed approach of Rachel Reeves and Starmer, who postponed critical issues like economic growth and spending cuts.
The former mayor describes the Budget as 'terrifying' for pretending there is no risk of war and ignoring what he calls a slide towards national bankruptcy that would hurt the poorest. He criticises spending on working-age benefits at the expense of defence and debt reduction.
Gimmicks and Giveaways
Preston highlights several measures he calls 'gimmicks', including a £100 council tax rebate for bands A to D, costing about £2.6billion and partly funded by a temporary increase in the bank surcharge. He also notes the scrapping of gas standing charges, which does not start until 2027 and merely reshuffles who pays.
The Chancellor also announced a £15million misogyny prevention fund and £100million for a women-only business fund, which Preston labels as 'woke' and negligent given the country's fiscal and security position. He points out that debt is already £14billion a year higher than the March forecast, and the Office for Budget Responsibility has cut next year's growth forecast from 1.6% to 1%.
Homelessness Contradiction
Preston, who has raised £7million through CEO Sleepout, welcomes the £430million allocated to end rough sleeping but argues a bed for the night is not a home. He warns that raising tax on rental income will discourage landlords, shrinking the housing supply and worsening homelessness, a consequence the OBR itself predicts.
He concludes that Britain needs a leader who will be respected when bills and threats land, not one who only seeks to be liked. The Budget, he says, was for Burnham, not for Britain. Andy Preston is a former fund manager and was the elected mayor of Middlesbrough from 2019 to 2023.
