Burnham refuses to rule out tax rises in upcoming autumn Budget

Andy Burnham has refused to dismiss potential tax increases in the upcoming Budget, stating he "won’t be unrealistic" regarding the state of public finances.

Acknowledging that the UK faces a "challenging position", the Prime Minister maintained his strategy for the economy would involve a "careful approach".

Speaking during his initial trip to Ukraine, Mr Burnham stood by promises to cap bus fares at £2 and lower VAT on household electricity bills as "funded commitments".

However, uncertainty persists regarding how other key promises, including a £5 billion defence commitment made prior to entering No 10 alongside his plans for major reforms to the social care sector, will ultimately be paid for.

Furthermore, proposals to finance the VAT cut by scrapping the former Labour administration’s digital ID scheme have faced scrutiny, after former minister Darren Jones stated that the previous policy had not been properly costed.

Asked whether the public should accept they will have to pay more in tax rises for some policies, the Prime Minister told ITV News: “They don’t necessarily need to accept that.

“What I have put out so far, I wouldn’t say is everything, but they are the first steps and they are significant.”

Pressed on whether he would need to fill in spending gaps with tax hikes, he said: “I will always take a careful approach to things. I ran Greater Manchester for 10 years and we ran a very tight ship with rock solid finances.

“Nothing will change as I come into this role as Prime Minister. I won’t take risks with people’s jobs or their livelihoods or their family finances.

“I will try to help them in whatever way I can, I have already done some things that will help them.”

He added: “I will do what I can but I won’t be unrealistic and people really need to understand that.

“We are in a challenging position, whatever I do will be carefully thought through, it will be funded and there will be more to come as we go into the autumn.”

Asked whether his messaging in the run-up to the autumn statement meant that people should expect to pay more tax following the autumn Budget, Mr Burnham told LBC: “No, it doesn’t mean that.

He suggested it would be possible to improve the cost of living by “changing some of our priorities” and promised to approach the finances “prudently and carefully”.