Andy Burnham gives first interview since leadership bid
Andy Burnham gave his first interview since launching his bid for the Labour leadership, hinting at tax changes, while Morgan McSweeney said Labour was underprepared for government.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Andy Burnham has given his first broadcast interview since launching his bid for the Labour leadership, signalling that he would stick to the party's manifesto commitments on tax but leaving the door open to changes in business rates. Speaking to LBC's Andrew Marr, the man widely expected to become prime minister later this month said he would not raise income tax, VAT or national insurance for individuals, but argued there was "room within that manifesto for movement on tax". He gave the example of increasing business rates on large warehouses to fund a 20% cut for pubs and lift some high street businesses out of rates altogether.
Burnham, who won the Makerfield by-election two weeks ago, also defended his record on fiscal discipline. "I am not indisciplined when it comes to the public finances," he said, pointing to his time at the Treasury, as health secretary, and as mayor of Greater Manchester. He said the finances he ran in Greater Manchester were "rock solid". The comments appeared aimed at reassuring the bond markets after previous remarks about not wanting to be "in hock" to them had caused concern.
On welfare, Burnham said he would not back "crude cuts" to benefit levels, fearing they would leave people in worse poverty. Instead, he called for a broader reform of the system, focusing on education, apprenticeships and in-work mental health support to reduce the long-term benefits bill. He acknowledged he had not yet seen all the details of the government's defence investment plan, which requires finding 4.7 billion pounds, but said he would take full responsibility for funding it.
Separately, Morgan McSweeney, the former chief of staff to Keir Starmer, gave an interview to the BBC's Political Thinking podcast in which he admitted Labour had been underprepared for government despite four years of planning. "When I say we weren't prepared, I really do mean the Labour Party more generally," he said, adding that the party had not had enough conversations about how to reform the state to deliver quickly for people.
Burnham is expected to become prime minister on 20 July, with no leadership challenger likely. He has faced limited scrutiny, with only one broadcast interview so far. He later took part in an online question-and-answer session on Reddit, where he faced questions on devolution and defence. The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, used the platform to criticise him, saying he should "come out of hiding" and face a proper press conference.
There has also been speculation about Burnham's cabinet choices, with reports that he may reunite former colleagues from the 2007 cabinet, including James Purnell and Douglas Alexander. A senior Labour woman told Sky News that this risked reopening "pretty deep scars" for women who served in that period and felt they were not respected.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One | BBC Two | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnham indicated he would uphold Labour's manifesto commitments on tax and maintain fiscal discipline. | · | |||
| Burnham hinted at cuts to business rates for pubs and changes to tax. | · | · | ||
| Burnham must find around 4.7 to 5 billion pounds for defence. | · | · | ||
| Morgan McSweeney acknowledged that Labour was not adequately prepared for government. | · | · | ||
| Burnham said he can be trusted with the economy, citing his experience in the Treasury, Health Department, and as Mayor of Greater Manchester. | · | · | · | |
| Burnham said he has not yet chosen his Chancellor. | · | · | · | |
| Burnham will not back crude benefit cuts. | · | · | · | |
| Burnham's cabinet plans may cause concern among women. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC One West focused on the interview with Chris Mason, providing analysis that Burnham is likely to be prime minister within weeks and highlighting the limited scrutiny he faces. The coverage also included Morgan McSweeney's admission that Labour was underprepared for government, and later segments covered Burnham's Reddit Q&A and Kemi Badenoch's criticism.
- “I am not indisciplined when it comes to the public finances.”
- “He said there was room for movement on tax, but he would stick to Labour's manifesto promise not to raise income tax, less insurance or VAT.”
- “He acknowledged that Labour had not properly prepared for power prior to the German election two years ago.”
BBC Two's Newsnight programme used a panel discussion to analyse Burnham's interview, with a critical tone from Matthew Side who called the pledges "phony" and described the current period as "limbo". The programme also gave significant airtime to Morgan McSweeney's full quote about Labour being underprepared, and featured historical perspective from Dame Mary Beard.
- “Andy Burnham's hinted at cuts to business rates for pubs and changes to tax in his first interview since winning the by-election.”
- “I am not indisciplined when it comes to the public finances.”
- “When I say we weren't prepared, I really do mean the Labour Party more generally, and I don't blame an individual for that, I take my own responsibilities for that.”
BBC News provided a concise, straightforward report focusing on Burnham's key statements: sticking to the manifesto, room for tax movement, and rejecting crude benefit cuts. It also highlighted the defence funding challenge and the bond market criticism, and later noted the Reddit session and Badenoch's intervention.
- “I stick by the manifesto and the promises that it made so let me be absolutely clear about that but there is some room within that manifesto for movement on tax.”
- “He also said he would not back crude cuts to benefit levels.”
- “Mr Burnham's faced criticism in the past for comments about the UK being in-hock to bond markets.”
Sky News offered detailed analysis of Burnham's tax and welfare positions, with political correspondent Amanda Acas exploring the implications of a potential wealth tax and council tax reform. A later segment also raised the controversy over Burnham's possible cabinet choices, quoting a senior Labour woman who warned of reopening scars for women from the 2007 cabinet.
- “I stick by the manifesto and the promises that it made so let me be absolutely clear about that but there is some room within that manifesto for movement on tax.”
- “He's going to have to find nearly £5 billion to fund the defence investment plan”
- “But in the process, he's also reopening pretty deep scars for the women who served in cabinet.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.