‘Pretty bold’: Burnham jumps to defend Healey’s Budget

Andy Burnham has come to John Healey's defense regarding the Prime Minister's first Budget, calling it "pretty bold" and aimed at benefiting the majority. During a press conference, Burnham stated that the Chancellor supported British households and businesses, delivering relief to 20 million households on energy costs through a council tax reduction and lifting 70,000 businesses out of business rates.

However, tensions arose as the Middle East conflicts disrupted trade and increased energy costs, leaving little room for maneuver. The government's decision to raise taxes by around £7 billion and increase short-term borrowing to fund the energy support package and tax reliefs sparked criticism. Industry group Confederation of British Industry questioned whether the Budget met the scale of economic challenges, with city analysts labeling it a "placeholder budget" and the Institute for Fiscal Studies calling it a "raft of fiddly measures with little impact on growth."

Despite the controversies, Burnham dismissed the possibility of a snap election within the next year, emphasizing his focus on helping people and putting Britain on a new path. However, opposition leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the Budget, stating that it only highlighted more borrowing, tax increases, and additional funding for benefits, failing to meet the demands of the moment.