In his first speech as prime minister, Andy Burnham has promised to give people more “breathing space” to help with the cost of living.
Policies will be announced on Tuesday – his first full day in the job. Although a few hours after taking office, the new prime minister confirmed he will be “looking at” the tax-free personal allowance ahead of his first Budget in the autumn.
Cost of living is a key issue for Burnham. Many people, he has previously said, can’t go out for a pint on a Friday, can’t take the kids out and can’t go on holiday owing to the pressure on their finances.
The cost of living has dominated people’s lives in recent years, and – to some extent – our politics too. Easing that pressure hasn’t been easy.
So, if Burnham chooses to support people on issues such as energy bills and the cost of transport, allows people to earn more before being taxed, and makes care and somewhere to live more affordable – he’ll face tough choices on funding those moves and managing the trade-offs that come with them.
And his new chancellor, John Healey, will be the one who has to deliver any changes, and outline how to pay for them.
