𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham dodged a question on tax rises at the budget in his first Commons statement as Prime Minister. Kemi Badenoch challenged the PM to rule out hikes at the autumn budget next month – but while he answered other questions, Mr Burnham failed to respond to this one.

The Conservative leader said: “The biggest mistake Labour have made in office so far and there are quite a few to choose from is that they crushed our economy under the weight of nearly £70 billion in new taxes.” She pointed to a series of examples, including the national insurance rise for employers and the inheritance tax raid on farmers.

Mrs Badenoch went on: “He says he cares about the cost of living, Labour’s taxes have made that worse.

“Those taxes have cost people their jobs. Thousands of jobs in oil and gas, industry closing around the country.

“The recruitment market for new graduates is the worst it has ever been. There are 50% fewer vacancies than last year which was already the worst on record.

“If he does not change course he too like every other Labour Prime Minister will leave office with unemployment higher than when he came in.

“So, can he guarantee here and now on the floor of this House that there will be no more tax rises in the Autumn Budget?”

But Mr Burnham failed to rule out budget tax hikes when he responded to the Tory leader.

In her response to his statement, Mrs Badenoch confronted Mr Burnham on five issues including defence spending, the migrant crisis, cutting benefits and the prison early release scheme.

But Mr Burnham insisted the country is “moving in the right direction”.

He said: “I will work with Mrs Badenoch where we can, and we should make that commitment to each other today. But I will still point out where she’s wrong, we are not in a position to take lectures when this country is moving in the right direction.

“You can see that on the economy, you can see that on small boat crossings, you can see that on the cost of living, and that is what we will continue to do to turn this country around.”