Sir Keir Starmer will seek to regain control of the political agenda on Thursday with a series of announcements on the cost of living and devolving power to local communities. The moves come as Westminster remains focused on the Makerfield by-election, now confirmed for June 18, and the possibility of a leadership challenge by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.
Fellow leadership hopeful Wes Streeting set out plans for a wealth tax that would equalise capital gains tax with income tax, potentially raising up to £12 billion a year. Streeting, who quit as health secretary last week, said the current system is “not fair” and “penalising work”. Allies of Burnham have suggested he may not launch an immediate bid for the top job if he returns to Westminster, but a contest is widely expected after his call for a “new path”.
Away from the by-election, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce plans to cut tariffs on some food products to mitigate the impact of the Iran war, and introduce free bus travel for children during August. Communities Secretary Steve Reed will set out proposals to give local communities more power, including minimum standards for services like pothole repairs and street cleaning, and powers to limit vape shops and gambling businesses on high streets.
Defending his government’s record, the Prime Minister insisted his policies were delivering results, citing a new trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council that he said would boost the economy by around £3.7 billion annually. He added that the government had secured £360 billion of investment since the general election, securing around 170,000 jobs.
Campaigning continues in Makerfield, where Burnham faces Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, Conservative Michael Winstanley, and Green Party candidate Chris Kennedy, a nurse who vowed to “fight for warmer homes, lower bills, and a fairer economy”.
