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'I’m not opposed to some of Andy Burnham's plans, but where will he get the money from?'

New Dispatch Published Jul 26, 2026 Reviewed Jul 27, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
'I’m not opposed to some of Andy Burnham's plans, but where will he get the money from?'
The Labour Party's dossier calculated that Andy Burnham's policy pledges would cost approximately £76 billion.
76000000000 GBP · Andy Burnham's policy pledges
Andy Burnham announced plans to cut VAT on electricity bills, cap bus journeys at £2, end rough sleeping, and slash business rates for pubs and music venues, partially funded by the digital ID scheme.
2 GBP · bus journey cap
Darren Jones stated that the Digital ID scheme was unfunded and that the Government would have to set out how it will pay for its new policies at the budget.
The Labour Party's dossier calculated that Andy Burnham's policy pledges would cost approximately £96 billion, leading to an estimated £4,300 extra annual cost per taxpayer.
96000000000 GBP · Andy Burnham's policy pledges4300 GBP · annual cost per taxpayer
The dossier listed Andy Burnham’s pledges including £18.8 billion on council house building, £22.7 billion to bring Thames Water under public control, £14.1 billion in future defence spending, £12.4 billion in unfreezing income tax personal allowances, and £8 billion uplift for foreign aid.
18800000000 GBP · council house building22700000000 GBP · bringing Thames Water under public control14100000000 GBP · future defence spending12400000000 GBP · unfreezing income tax personal allowances8000000000 GBP · foreign aid uplift

Our inexperienced new Prime Minister Andy Burnham is already getting his sums wrong. Oh dear.

Bitter Darren Jones, who lost his place at the top table, pointed out an error is Andy’s first major financial policy announcement.

Andy Burnham has announced plans to to bring down the cost of living by taking VAT off electricity bills, a £2 cap on bus journeys, ending rough sleeping and slashing business rates for pubs and music venues, and he would pay for some of this with the digital ID scheme cash.

Darren Jones tweeted: "Good news that VAT will be cut on electricity bills. It’s a simple way for families to save a few quid, and to mechanically help to keep inflation that little bit lower.

"But the Digital ID program was unfunded. The Government will have to set out how it will pay for its new policies at the budget."

Who needs an opposition when you’ve got recently sacked cabinet minister Darren Jones who has just admitted that the Digital ID scheme was unfunded?

This shows just how shambolic this Labour Government has been so far.

But it doesn’t end there. Our exuberant new PM has pledged to deal with the social care crisis which is estimated to cost £18billion. Very laudable.

And he has launched a tirade of plans which are likely to cost us taxpayers eye-watering sums.

A dossier produced by the Tory party listed a series of pledges made by Andy Burnham, which included £18.8billion on council house building, £22.7billion to bring Thames Water under public control, £14.1billion in future defence spending, £12.4billion in unfreezing income tax personal allowances, and £8billion uplift for foreign aid.

The dossier has calculated that Mr Burnham future plans would cost approximately £76billion and that there has been no explanation as to how it will be funded.

Our new PM is being accused of plans that will put the taxpayer on the hook for an extra £4,300 per year and that he is "writing cheques British people can't cash" by running up £96billion of policy pledges.

That's alongside his new chancellor John Healey, who couldn’t count how many ships we have when asked on LBC radio in March.

I think things are going swimmingly well.. He’s our new chancellor who resigned because the defence budget fell short by £5billion. More money Andy has to find.

Andy told the BBC that he’s not going to call a general election even though he doesn’t have a mandate for all of this.

Listen Andy, I’m not opposed to some of your plans, but those in your party were swift to roast Liz Truss for her unfunded approach, so it’s only fair that you get the same treatment.

Welfare and the boats, which right now the latter is being abused and poses a national security threat, but we don’t want to mention those.

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