Andy Burnham challenged to rule out 10 tax hikes | Politics | News
Reform England’s Robert Jenrick has challenged Andy Burnham to ignore a series of “eye-watering” tax increases. Sir Keir Starmer’s successor has been accused of planning to increase taxes by £38bn (£3,450 per family) in an analysis by Reform.
Mr Jenrick highlighted 10 tax increases the future prime minister had previously supported or refused to rule out; These include introducing a 10 per cent tax on estates after death, bringing back the 50 per cent top rate of income tax, reducing national insurance on rental income, changing capital gains tax rates and extending the estate tax. Mr Burnham will move into 10 Downing Street in a matter of days but Mr Jenrick said he was “avoiding scrutiny like the plague”.
Writing in the Daily Express, Reform’s Treasury spokesman said the former Manchester mayor had “spent two decades getting access to other people’s money”.
Mr Jenrick said: “Combined with the £66bn tax rises Rachel Reeves has already introduced, Labor could achieve tax increases of more than £100bn by the next election.
“This works out to £3,450 per family – an eye-watering thing. All this at a time when people are struggling, with bills and prices constantly rising. And the tax burden is at a post-war record.”
Mr Jenrick added: “We demand that Andy Burnham ignore every single one of the 10 measures he has previously supported. He does not have the power to impose them on the British people.”
Other measures Reform claims Mr Burnham is considering include a graduation tax, land value tax, compulsory tourism tax, higher gambling taxes and a business parking levy.
A spokesman for Mr Burnham said: “On tax, Andy has made it clear he is committed to the 2024 manifesto. The figures doled out by Reformation amount to nonsense and hopeless scare.”
“Over the last decade, Andy has led the nation’s fastest-growing urban region by increasing incomes and reducing poverty. He has focused on delivering the same good growth in every zip code, raising living standards and giving families breathing room by combating rising costs.”
