Andy Burnham On Monday he feared he would raise taxes in the US Budget after admitting the country is in a ‘challenging position’.
The Prime Minister said he would not be ‘unrealistic’ about the help he can offer households with the cost of living and would not ‘take risks’.
But he did claim that he would “honor” Work‘s 2024 manifesto, which ruled out an increase in national insurance, income tax or an increase in income tax VAT.
He also denied that he would call for a moment general electionsdespite some commentators suggesting he could take advantage of the ‘Burnham bounce’ in Labour’s polls to win another mandate and jettison Sir Keir Starmer‘s promises.
In a series of interviews in Ukraine, the prime minister said he had “clear plans” that would restore hope.
But on Monday evening, Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: ‘Andy Burnham became Prime Minister without a plan and couldn’t say where the money will come from to meet his obligations, so he’s now staring at the inevitable barrel of tax rises.
‘It doesn’t matter who is in charge, it is the PvdA itself that is the problem. As State Secretary for Welfare [Pat McFadden] said, all they want is to raise taxes to fund more benefits.”
Mr Burnham was asked by ITV News whether the public should accept paying more tax to tackle the big problems he has highlighted, including the housing crisis and social care.
Andy Burnham (pictured August 21, 2026) expressed fears on Monday that he will raise taxes in the Budget after admitting the country is in a ‘challenging position’
On Monday evening, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride (pictured) said Burnham was ‘now eyeing the inevitable barrel of tax rises’.
He replied: ‘No, they don’t necessarily have to accept that.’
When it was put to him that the gap in the defense budget should be filled with tax increases, the Prime Minister said he “will not take any risks with people’s jobs or livelihoods.”
He added: “I will try to help them in any way I can, I have already done some things that will help them. I will do what I can, but I will not be unrealistic.
‘We are in a challenging position. Whatever I do will be well thought out, it will be funded and there will be more to come as we move into the fall.”
In an interview with LBC, he was asked again whether the public could expect to pay more tax in the October budget, and he replied: ‘No… We have a manifesto, and I will honor that manifesto. “I believe it is possible to provide additional cost-of-living assistance to people by changing some of our priorities.”
He added: “Whether I will achieve everything I want is another matter. But people will have no doubt about the direction I want to take the country… a hopeful direction, a positive direction, a unifying direction.”
When told it would be easier to get a new mandate by calling an election, Mr Burnham replied: “I’m ruling that out before your eyes.”
