THERE IS SOME ROOM FOR MOVEMENT ON TAX – Andy Burnham says there is “some room” for movement on tax

Andy Burnham, who is widely expected to take over as prime minister later this month, has said there is “some room” for movement on tax.

In an interview Burnham suggested business rates on warehouses could be increased to fund tax cuts for pubs and some high-street businesses.

But the newly elected Makerfield MP said he would stick to the pledges Labour made not to raise VAT, income tax or national insurance in its general election manifesto in 2024.

He also defended his credibility on economic policy, insisting he would not be “indisciplined” with the public finances if he becomes PM.

Some on the left of the Labour Party have called for borrowing rules to be relaxed to fund more public spending.

Burnham has faced criticism in the past for arguing that the UK had “got to get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets”, which governments use to borrow money to fund government spending.