All the policy pledges Andy Burnham has made since becoming prime minister

Andy Burnham’s first week as Britain’s new prime minister has begun with a series of policy promises aimed mainly at reducing households’ daily living costs.

Speaking to his newly assembled cabinet for the first time on Tuesday, he told them this will be a “cost of living government”, which was followed by several announcements aimed at easing the financial burden on people across the country.

In his inaugural speech after becoming prime minister on Monday, Mr Burnham laid out a bold vision to roll back economic policies introduced by the Thatcher administration in the 1980s and bring forward “the biggest changes in the last 40 years”.

But the government’s initial policy promises have focused on the short term, with cost-of-living measures set to come into force next April at the latest.

It remains to be seen which of the sweeping policy commitments Mr. Burnham made during the campaign will constitute his first priorities; Experts warn that cost pressures could make it difficult to fulfill some in the short term.

Policies approved or proposed by the Burnham government so far include:

Approved

VAT discount on energy bill

One of Mr Burnham’s first moves was to scrap VAT on household electricity bills from October; This is expected to cut £45 off the average household’s energy bills.

The Treasury said the VAT cut would cost around £850 million this financial year and would be funded by the cancellation of the government’s planned Digital ID programme.

However, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) stressed in November that the cost of the Digital ID scheme was “unfunded” as it was based on savings from departmental budgets that had not yet been determined.

Bus fares have skyrocketed

On the third day of his premiership, Mr Burnham announced the reintroduction of a £2 bus ticket cap, reversing his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to increase the figure.

The reintroduction of this maximum fee would be financed in part by converting grants for international climate projects into repayable loans instead.

Mr Burnham said: “Good, affordable transport links are so important. No one should be priced out of them and left behind.”

A plan to end rough sleeping

In his opening speech on Monday, Mr Burnham said his “first directive” would be to “put an end to insomnia in our country”.

More detailed in Number 10, it was announced that a £340 million fund would be used to acquire suitable homes, identify those most in need and begin providing housing and support “without delay”.

The government said the funding would provide intensive support for 1,200 homes and at least 3,000 long-term rough sleepers over a five-year period.

Number 10 North

One of Mr Burnham’s key proposals was the creation of an outpost in Downing Street, based in Manchester, called “Number 10 in the North”.

The operation “was not a ruse,” he said Tuesday, adding that personnel were already working from the new base.

“This includes staff from Manchester and staff from across the country,” he added.

The government has not yet shared the location of the operation, but it is generally thought to be Heron House in the city centre. A spokesman for Mr Burnham said he planned to work from the area one day a week.

Business rates rebalanced

Mr Burnham announced that business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues in England would be cut by 20 per cent, fulfilling his campaign promise.

The new rates will come into force from April and will save the typical pub an estimated £1,100, according to the government.

It is stated that the £100 million package will be fully financed. This will be achieved in part by reviewing aid for businesses that do not “make a positive contribution to local communities”, such as vape shops.

Mr Burnham has signaled in the past that he may look to increase business rates at large warehouses run by retail giants such as Amazon to pay for the changes. This has not been confirmed by the government.

planned

Freezing tax personal allowance – U-turn

Shortly before becoming prime minister, Mr Burnham indicated he would take action on the £12,570 freeze on income tax personal allowance, which has been in place for five years and was extended by Rachel Reeves last year.

Former mayor says issue is ‘the thing I hear most on the doorstep’ in Makerfield Times throughout the weekend.

But Mr Burnham said on Monday that any changes to the freeze “would be difficult given the financial circumstances we are in”.

Delegation of authority and public control

Mr Burnham has long been an advocate of devolution and has repeatedly called for it to go further during his time as mayor of Greater Manchester.

Speaking outside of Number 10 on Monday, he criticized political power in Britain becoming “centralised”, and added that he plans to “take power out of here, and carry it into every postcode in the land”.

This, he said, would require bringing basic needs “under stronger public control”, which he has argued in the past includes sectors such as water, transport and housing.

More details on these plans will likely be announced in the coming weeks, as the policies are longer term. Returning minister Angela Rayner will play a central role in delivering these plans as she has been reappointed as housing secretary.