Andy Burnham is set to enter 10 Downing Street on Monday (Image: Getty)
Has anyone seen Andy Burnham? He’s set to be Prime Minister in a matter of days, but he’s been dodging scrutiny like the plague.
Other than going for his daily run, he’s barely shown his face. He even banned journalists from asking questions at the one speech he gave.
It doesn’t inspire confidence that he is a strong leader with a plan to turn our country around when he walks into Downing Street on Monday.
It all begs the question: who on earth is he? What does he stand for?
In reality it’s hard to pin down what Burnham believes. During his by-election he performed five U-turns in a matter of weeks – enough to make Keir Starmer look like a vision of stability.
So to work out what we can expect, Reform UK went back and looked at his record over his long political career.
What we found is that Andy Burnham has spent twenty years reaching for other people’s money.
These include a death tax on family homes, a graduate tax on young people getting their first pay cheque, a £14 billion raid on savings and investment, and new taxes on everything from your parking space at work to your weekend away.
In total, Andy Burnham has supported or not ruled out over £38billion of new or higher taxes.
Combined with the top of the £66 billion of tax rises already imposed by Rachel Reeves, Labour could hit more than £100 billion in higher taxes by the next election.
That amounts to £3,450 per family – eyewatering stuff. All at a time when people are struggling as bills and prices keep going up and up. And when the tax burden is at a post-war record.
Andy Burnham may have more charisma than Keir Starmer (that’s not hard!) but it’s clear he’s still the same establishment politician that believes we can tax our way to prosperity. He’s another career politician that thinks it’s acceptable to say one thing to the public at a general election and do another in practice.
That’s why Reform is launching our summer campaign to stop Burnham’s tax rises.
We are demanding that Andy Burnham rules out each of the 10 measures he has previously supported. He has no mandate to impose them on the British people.
Express readers can be reassured that Reform UK will always take the side of those who have worked hard and done the right thing.
Robert Jenrick is Reform UK’s Treasury sportsman
Burnham Under Pressure as Reform Targets Tax Plans Ahead of New Government
Andy Burnham’s expected arrival at Downing Street has triggered an immediate political battle over the future direction of Britain’s economy, with Reform UK seeking to make taxation one of the defining issues of the next election cycle.
Robert Jenrick’s intervention reflects Reform’s wider strategy of portraying Labour as a party that relies on higher taxes rather than economic growth. The party argues that voters who are already facing pressure from household bills, mortgages and everyday costs will reject further increases in taxation.
However, Labour supporters are likely to argue that difficult decisions on public finances are necessary after years of pressure on public services and rising national debt. They say that responsible government requires balancing investment, spending and taxation rather than simply promising reductions.
Mr Burnham’s leadership style will now come under intense scrutiny. Unlike Sir Keir Starmer, who built his leadership around caution and discipline, the Greater Manchester Mayor has developed a reputation as a more recognisable and publicly confident political figure.
His supporters believe his communication skills and regional government experience could help Labour reconnect with voters who have become frustrated with Westminster politics. Critics, however, argue that popularity does not automatically translate into a successful national economic programme.
The tax debate is expected to become one of the central dividing lines between Labour and Reform. Reform UK is attempting to position itself as the party of lower taxes, smaller government and economic reform, while Labour faces pressure to explain how it will fund public services without increasing the burden on households.
For Mr Burnham, the challenge will be convincing voters that any financial decisions made by his Government are fair, necessary and focused on long-term improvement rather than simply raising revenue.
The controversy also highlights a broader issue facing British politics: public trust. Many voters have become increasingly sceptical of promises made during election campaigns, particularly when governments later introduce policies they previously ruled out.
Reform believes this creates an opportunity to attract support from people who feel ignored by traditional parties. Labour, meanwhile, will need to demonstrate that it can deliver economic stability while avoiding accusations that it is placing too much pressure on taxpayers.
As the new Prime Minister prepares to enter Downing Street, the first major test will be whether he can move beyond political arguments and convince the public that his Government has a credible plan for growth, affordability and national renewal.
The coming months are likely to reveal whether Burnham’s political experience and communication skills can overcome the deep economic frustrations facing Britain — or whether opposition parties can successfully turn taxation into a major weakness for Labour.