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Andy Burnham promises more cost-of-living support in first speech
The plan could hinge on changes to taxes such as the personal allowance, which would reduce revenues when income tax and National Insurance thresholds are frozen until April 2031.
In his first speech as prime minister, Andy Burnham promised to give people more “breathing space” as the cost of living remains a central issue for households and policy.
BBC Business notes that he flagged possible support across areas including energy bills, transport costs, and making care and somewhere to live more affordable, but that any such moves would require difficult decisions on how to fund them and manage trade-offs.
The outlet points to the recent policy backdrop, where levies were cut and £150 was removed from a typical annual domestic energy bill in April, before bills rose again alongside food and mortgage costs as a result of the impact of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
BBC Business also says Burnham has hinted at shifting the personal allowance so people can earn more before starting to pay income tax, while income tax and National Insurance thresholds are frozen until April 2031 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, a change that would likely mean finding funding elsewhere or borrowing, with his approach also reflecting Labour’s stance on not raising the main three taxes.