wellnessfitpro
Burnham plays down prospect of introducing wealth tax soon after becoming PM
Andy Burnham has played down the prospect of his introducing a wealth tax soon after he become PM next week.
But he has also said that he might have to ask taxpayers for “a little more” given the state of the national finances.
Burnham made his comments in an interview with Gary Lineker in which he also discussed the cost of living, Donald Trump and the World Cup.
The idea of a wealth tax is popular in the Labour party, even though there is no agreement was to what the term actually means. The Greens want an annual tax on assets worth more than £10m. Labour MPs tend to be more sceptical about this, but leftwingers, including some people close to Burnham, have called for capital gains tax to be raised to the level of income tax, a policy backed by Wes Streeting when he considering a run for the Labour leadership recently. Streeting called that “a wealth tax that works”.
Rachel Reeves, the outgoing chancellor, claims she has already in effect introduced wealth taxes because she has introduced various measures that will raise taxes for the rich.
Asked if he would introduce a wealth tax, Burnham told Lineker:
I’m going to obviously take my time to properly look at the state of things, particularly the state of finances. And I just said a moment ago, Gary, about bringing people together. You know, I don’t want to come in and, if you like, create new divisions and pitch people one against another.
I’m not going rule things out right now. I do believe we need a greater sense of fairness and people feeling that things are being done in the right way and a fair way.
But at the same time, I don’t want to sort of be perceived as somebody who’s coming in with grudges and agendas and going to just immediately find or demonise one group or create a new way of dividing people.
But some sort of tax rises were possible, Burnham suggested.
Decisions to be taken in time, they’re going to be difficult. I’m not going to shy away from that. You know, we are going to have to work quite hard to make sure we can pay our way.
And at some point that might be having to ask for a little more.
But those decisions are not for now. They’re for another day.
Burnham said helping people with the cost of living would be a “key thing” for him.
People are paying too much for the basic things in life. And we’ve got to find ways of taking that pressure off them.
I heard on the doorsteps in Makerfield, ‘You know what, Andy, I can’t go out for a few pints anymore. I can’t take the kids out. I can’t go on holiday.’ Some of the things that just brought that bit of extra joy to people’s lives have kind of disappeared.
And we just need to try and bring a bit of a lift to people, a greater sense of hope back and a feeling that the country, if not everything being right now, is on a path to a better place.
And I will do whatever I can, I’ll give it my all to see if I can bring that about.
Asked about dealing with Donald Trump, Burnham said that “being yourself” and “respecting the office” woud be important. He said:
I’ll just meet him where he’s at. And I like to think I’ve got some personality myself and I’ll deal with him very upfront in the same way I think he likes people to deal with him …
Where you disagree, do it, but do it in a way that is kind of meeting him where he’s at.
Asked about England’s chances in the World Cup, Burnham said:
There’s more positivity and belief around England, I think, than any time I can remember …
I don’t want to jinx it here, but it does feel as though there is just that little bit extra there, and let’s hope it comes through.
Key events
DUP sets up review to establish what people in party knew about Jeffrey Donaldson’s sex offending
DUP leader Gavin Robinson has insisted he has ordered an “unprecedented review” in terms of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Donaldson’s time in his party, the Press Association reports. PA says:
Robinson previously announced a “focused, independent review” to establish what was known within the party about Donaldson’s conduct.
The review will be led by Jim Gamble, a former senior police officer and current head of the INEQE Safeguarding Group.
The Northern Ireland Survivor Council had expressed “concern” because the INEQE is also undertaking a safeguarding review of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and it had emerged Donaldson’s victims had previously disclosed to church officials they had been abused.
They have queried whether one organisation can independently and robustly conduct both reviews.
Former DUP leader Donaldson was, last month, convicted at Newry Crown Court of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children.
Robinson said he was very pleased that Gamble and his company has agreed to the review.
Corbyn says Starmer wrong to claim at PMQs that Labour found to be ‘institutionally antisemitic’ under his leadership
During PMQs Keir Starmer said that Labour was “found to be institutionally antisemitic” as a result of things that happened under his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.
Corbyn, who was thrown out of Labour under Starmer and who is now parliamentary leader of Your Party, has said this claim was false. Starmer was referring to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report into antisemitism in Labour, and Corbyn says Starmer has misdescribed its findings.
In a statement, Corbyn says:
The prime minister today falsely claimed that Labour was found to be “institutionally antisemitic” under my leadership. There was no such finding, and Keir Starmer should have the decency to correct the record.
This is the second time in recent weeks he has made a false allegation about the Labour party under my leadership (last time about an invented financial bankruptcy) to bolster his own dismal record.
Misrepresentations and broken undertakings are unfortunately part of a pattern under his leadership, leading to the collapse of public support that has brought his premiership to an end.
He is now heading for the exit, but I will continue to campaign for social justice, human rights and peace. That includes uncovering the true scale of this government’s institutional complicity in genocide.
Farage said he would need ‘a million a year’ to stand as MP in 2024
Nigel Farage told senior figures in Reform UK he would need “a million a year” to cover lost earnings if he stood for parliament in the 2024 general election, sources have told the Guardian, raising further questions about why he was given £5m by a crypto billionaire. Anna Isaac has the story.
Burnham plays down prospect of introducing wealth tax soon after becoming PM
Andy Burnham has played down the prospect of his introducing a wealth tax soon after he become PM next week.
But he has also said that he might have to ask taxpayers for “a little more” given the state of the national finances.
Burnham made his comments in an interview with Gary Lineker in which he also discussed the cost of living, Donald Trump and the World Cup.
The idea of a wealth tax is popular in the Labour party, even though there is no agreement was to what the term actually means. The Greens want an annual tax on assets worth more than £10m. Labour MPs tend to be more sceptical about this, but leftwingers, including some people close to Burnham, have called for capital gains tax to be raised to the level of income tax, a policy backed by Wes Streeting when he considering a run for the Labour leadership recently. Streeting called that “a wealth tax that works”.
Rachel Reeves, the outgoing chancellor, claims she has already in effect introduced wealth taxes because she has introduced various measures that will raise taxes for the rich.
Asked if he would introduce a wealth tax, Burnham told Lineker:
I’m going to obviously take my time to properly look at the state of things, particularly the state of finances. And I just said a moment ago, Gary, about bringing people together. You know, I don’t want to come in and, if you like, create new divisions and pitch people one against another.
I’m not going rule things out right now. I do believe we need a greater sense of fairness and people feeling that things are being done in the right way and a fair way.
But at the same time, I don’t want to sort of be perceived as somebody who’s coming in with grudges and agendas and going to just immediately find or demonise one group or create a new way of dividing people.
But some sort of tax rises were possible, Burnham suggested.
Decisions to be taken in time, they’re going to be difficult. I’m not going to shy away from that. You know, we are going to have to work quite hard to make sure we can pay our way.
And at some point that might be having to ask for a little more.
But those decisions are not for now. They’re for another day.
Burnham said helping people with the cost of living would be a “key thing” for him.
People are paying too much for the basic things in life. And we’ve got to find ways of taking that pressure off them.
I heard on the doorsteps in Makerfield, ‘You know what, Andy, I can’t go out for a few pints anymore. I can’t take the kids out. I can’t go on holiday.’ Some of the things that just brought that bit of extra joy to people’s lives have kind of disappeared.
And we just need to try and bring a bit of a lift to people, a greater sense of hope back and a feeling that the country, if not everything being right now, is on a path to a better place.
And I will do whatever I can, I’ll give it my all to see if I can bring that about.
Asked about dealing with Donald Trump, Burnham said that “being yourself” and “respecting the office” woud be important. He said:
I’ll just meet him where he’s at. And I like to think I’ve got some personality myself and I’ll deal with him very upfront in the same way I think he likes people to deal with him …
Where you disagree, do it, but do it in a way that is kind of meeting him where he’s at.
Asked about England’s chances in the World Cup, Burnham said:
There’s more positivity and belief around England, I think, than any time I can remember …
I don’t want to jinx it here, but it does feel as though there is just that little bit extra there, and let’s hope it comes through.
Zack Polanski, the Green party leader, has said that today’s reports claiming that Andy Burnham is not going to pick Ed Miliband as chancellor (see 11.14am) reflect badly on Labour. He said:
The Green party will tax millionaires and billionaires through a wealth tax. It is reported today that Labour by contrast are choosing to let millionaires and billionaires pick who their chancellor is. That is why we are here to replace Labour.
Welsh Labour’s new leader Ken Skates says he shares Burnham’s commitment to devolution and decentralisation
Steven Morris
Steven Morris is a Guardian reporter covering Wales.
The new leader of Welsh Labour, Ken Skates, has told the Guardian that steering his party’s fightback following disastrous results in the Senedd elections will be a “big task” and is starting immediately.
He said he needed to convince voters that Welsh Labour was a party focused on “health and wealth for all”, adding: “We need to escape navel gazing and we need to be bold and ambitious in looking to the future based on our core principles.”
Skates said his party would work with Plaid Cymru, which leads the Welsh government, in the interest of the people of Wales – but would challenge them when it felt they weren’t doing the right thing. “We will hold them to account where and when they fail to demonstrate progressive policy.”
Skates is the first Welsh Labour leader from north Wales, which he said would bring a fresh set of eyes to the job. He said:
It is helpful to have a fresh perspective and fresh ideas, and hopefully that’s what I’ll be able to bring to the job. My background is somewhat different to previous leaders. I’m not from a traditional political family. I’m from a family of steel workers.
He said he had similarities with Andy Burnham, including supporting Everton and attending Cambridge University. Plus: “We both share poor taste in running shorts.”
He added:
I think most importantly, though, for the Labour movement in Wales, we are both fully committed to a devolution revolution, to decentralising and de-concentrating power. Whether that be Westminster to the rest of the UK or Cardiff Bay to the rest of Wales. We need deeper devolution and we’ll be committed to that.
Zia Yusuf’s press conference about protecting politicians from violence – summary and analysis
Earlier today Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, gave a speech and held a press conference about protecting politicians from violence. There have been some claims that Reform UK are only, or mainly, talking up this issue as a means of trying to justify Nigel Farage’s decision to take an undeclared gift of £5m from Christopher Harbone (which he says will pay for his security). The murder of Ann Widdecombe has probably shut down that line of criticism for good. Yusuf was talking about a genuine, very serious problem, and he spoke with sincerity about how, when he was party chair, he worried about the safety of activists, like those “chased down the street with an axe”.
But, nevertheless, the speech still came across as a rant – partly because of the total lack of curiosity as to what are the reasons for the rise in violence against politicians, and partly because of his wholesale refusal to accept that Reform UK’s own MPs have played a role in creating a toxic online culture that exacerbates the problem. It is obvious that a large part of this is driven by the social media hate economy, and at least three Reform UK MPs actually get paid by Elon Musk’s X platform for tweets that drive engagement. You can guess what type of posts these might be; they are not cat videos, or wholesome quotes about mindfulness.
There was also an implicit threat in the speech, directed at the media. Farage is the only party leader who in effect has his own TV station (GB News), but that does not stop the party claiming that it has been victimised by newspapers and broadcasters. After the speech was over, Farage posted a clip of it on X with the caption: “I will not forget what The Times have done.” (That is a reference to the Times printing a picture of the home owned by Farage where his daughter lives.)
Here are the main points from the speech and Q&A.
-
Yusuf said that Farage has received 1,577 threats since February, including 597 death threats. He said:
The leader of our party lives his life under the ever present threat of mortal danger …
Many politicians and members of the media are effectively stopping the function of democracy by creating an environment of such hostility for Reform and making it unpalatably dangerous to air perfectly reasonable views.
-
Yusuf implied that politicians who have strongly criticised Reform UK were guilty of inciting violence. He made this argument in a post on social media yesterday and in his opening statement, he said:
I can tell you about the climate in which [Widdecombe] was killed: a relentless narrative from politicians and the media that Reform UK is a threat.
A threat to be urgently stopped.
A narrative so relentless it constitutes incitement
But, during the Q&A, he was asked twice (by the Telegraph and then the Mail) if he was accusing other MPs of the sort of incitement that would count as a criminal offence. He ignored the question the first time, but in response to the second question he said he was not accusing politicians of incitement to a criminal threshold.
-
Yusuf defended calling Tories “traitors” – and claimed that was different from the sort of extreme things Labour MPs have said about Reform UK. But Yusuf’s definition of traitors (see 11.03am) seemed to be so wide it just meant politicians doing something he did not think was in the national interest. Yusuf did not address the point that Reform UK’s former leader in Wales has been jailed for more than 10 years for taking bribes to deliver pro-Russian speeches – something that would fit the “traitor” description more accurately.
Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, made the inflammatory declaration that “the greatest threat to the Britain we love doesn’t come from Tehran or Moscow. It comes from within. I’m talking about Nigel Farage and Reform”.
Vladimir Putin has murdered people with poison on British soil.
The Iranian regime has attempted multiple terrorist attacks on British soil.
Is it any wonder, with such rhetoric relentlessly levelled at Reform, that some may be moved to try to eliminate that supposed threat through lethal violence?
Lisa Nandy, Labour’s culture secretary was asked whether Reform were fascists. She responded: “If it walks like a duck…”
The chairman of the Conservative party likened Reform to Nazis. Instead of sacking him, the leader of the Conservative Party said he was “being funny”.
Ms Badenoch. Nothing about comparing anyone at Reform to Nazis is “funny”.
Keir Starmer described Reform policies as “racist” and “immoral”.
Wes Streeting insisted that Reform was “dangerous”, “nationalistic”, and “using propaganda reminiscent of the 1930s” and Lucy Powell described Mr Farage as a “threat to democracy”.
But, while some of this language might be intemperate, Reform UK is more tolerant of racism, and more extreme on issues like migration, than any other party in recent history with a chance of winning an election. That is a legitimate subject for comment and debate. Yusuf did not acknowledge that.
-
Yusuf was particularly critical of David Lammy, the deputy PM, for once claiming Nigel Farage “flirted with Hitler Youth when he was younger”. But Yusuf also ignored the fact that, while Farage clearly was not in the Hitler Youth, because he was born long after the war, as a schoolboy he did reportedly sing Hitler Youth songs. Lammy’s comment may have been ill-phrased, but it was based on strong evidence about what Farage was like as a teenager. (Farage has denied almost all the reports about racist or pro-Nazi things he said or did when he was at school, but the evidence against him is compelling.)
-
He claimed the round-the-clock protection policy for MPs would cost about £100m. When it was pointed out to him that this would only amount to £150,000 per MP, he conceded that the actual cost might turn out to be “materially more”. But he said that this was nothing compared to the £40bn the government is planning to spend refurbishing parliament. (In fact, the government has not committed to this project, in part because the bill is so high.). He also said spending money to ensure the safety of politicians was worth it. He explained:
We do not have a democracy if our MPs are fearful for their lives or feel like they cannot talk about some of the most urgent issues in this country.
-
He also said Reform UK would “allocate significant new resources to protect former politicians still active in public life”. He accepted that this would cost even more money. The threshold at which people would get security would be “much, much lower than it is currently”, he said.
Yusuf did not take questions about the Clacton byelection, saying that he wanted to focus today on the security issue.
Starmer praised as ‘giant of Labour movement’ at final cabinet meeting
Keir Starmer was told he would be remembered as a “giant of the Labour movement” as he marked the final meeting of his top team of ministers, the Press Association reports. PA says:
His cabinet gave him gifts of a carriage clock and two bottles of wine – one an English sparkling wine that was served at the French state visit last summer, and the other a pinot grigio.
Starmer opened the cabinet meeting paying tribute to Ann Widdecombe as a “highly distinguished, forthright politician” and said the murder of the former Tory minister and latterly Reform UK spokeswoman showed there were “wider questions to address about the safety of politicians”.
He then turned to what he considers his proudest achievements while in government, pointing to the UK economy, improvements to the NHS and investment in tackling child poverty.
He said his administration had “transformed our international standing” as he hailed his efforts to reset ties with the European Union and take a leading role in the coalition of the willing on Ukraine and a future mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Deputy PM David Lammy paid tribute to Starmer’s legacy to mark the end of meeting, praising his work ethic and resilience.
He said: “You prioritised the people of this country. Not many politicians at this level can say that.
“Second, your incredible energy and work ethic: I’ve never known a politician put in the hours that you do. Again and again, day after day, always trying to do more for the people that we serve, and third, your sheer resilience.
“All of us around this table have thick skins. We’ve got to, to do this job but the nature of politics now is that leaders are not treated kindly in the moment.
“But what you’ve done in government for our party means that the history books will write you up as a giant of the Labour movement, and for that we thank you very much.”
He was given a standing ovation at the end of the final weekly meeting.
Farage welcomes news police have arrested man for threatening to kill him
A man has been arrested for threatening to kill Nigel Farage, the Daily Telegraph is reporting.
In a statement to the paper, the Reform UK leader welcomed the news – and said it was the first time the police had proactively acted in response to a social media post about him. Farage said:
This is the first time the police have ever proactively acted on a social media post, and I hope they are looking at the other three or four hundred similar posts from this year alone.
This has been going on for years – not just words but videos of people firing guns and so on, and in the past we have put multiple reports in to the police, always to be told that these social media posts don’t meet the threshold, which is extraordinary.
According to the Telegraph, the suspect posted a message on social media a day after the May local elections telling Farage: “I am going to shoot you in the head if you win.”
The paper says he was arrested in London yesterday on suspicion of sending a threatening communication. He has been released on bail pending further inquiries.
The Telegraph says the message was identified by parliament’s security information and risk analysis service and reported to the police by the parliamentary liaison and investigations team.
Farage has repeatedly complained that the police have not done enough to deal with online threats made against him.
Last year a man was jailed for five years for threatening to kill Farage on TikTok.
PMQs – snap verdict
While it is undoubtedly the case that politics, in the UK and elsewhere, has become more polarised and aggressive and unpleasant in the past decade or so, it is not a total lost cause. It is still the case that most people who stand for parliament want to do some good, and most of them are reasonably decent. And occasionally it shows – which is why today’s proceedings were uplifting, even if they won’t change anything and will soon be forgotten.
At the start of her questions, Kemi Badenoch talked about wanting to get the tone right – proof that she does, in fact, read John Crace’s sketches, like this one. Today she pitched it perfectly – a nice joke about Clacton, a moving tribute to Starmer for the way he supported President Zelenskyy, some understated party politics, and warm remarks about Starmer’s family. Starmer got it just right too – graceful and reflective and appreciative. After Starmer finished his final answer, Labour MPs gave him a standing ovation and many opposition MPs did too (even some of the Reform UK ones). But Badenoch stayed seated, and the Tory benches did not join in.
Normal service will resume very quickly (talking of which, I’ll have more to say about Zia Yusuf’s peculiar press conference shortly). But today’s brief interval of warmth and niceness was good while it lasted. Some MPs were close to tears.
Starmer delivers farewell to MPs, saying he’s proud to ‘leave country in better shape than I found it’
Carolyn Harris (Lab), a close friend of Starmer’s, gets the final question.
She says few believed he could make the changes needed when he became leader.
But today, because of his service and his leadership, children are growing up in a fairer Britain. We stand tall on the world stage.
And every day we’ve seen his decency and his courage shine through.
Starmer thanks Harris for her comments and her friendship.
He goes on:
This will be my last answer from this despatch box.
Every prime minister knows when they take up the torch that the day will come when they have to pass it on. That day has come for me.
This is the end of my political journey.
In six years, we went from historic defeat in 2019 to historic victory in 2024, and in two years in government I leave the country in better shape than I found it.
I’m proud of everything that we have achieved.
Can I just take time to say to you, Mr Speaker, and all those who work for the house and in our constituency offices, thank you for all your hard work.
To our civil service, thank you also for all your hard work.
To my political team, many of them here today, who came on this journey with me, thank you so much for everything you have done, and being prepared to walk through fire for me.
To my colleagues on these benches, I am proud of all we have achieved together and proud of each and every one of you.
To my successor, and each of you, I will give my full support.
To all colleagues across the house, can I wish you good health and happiness.
To all those in the gallery, whose lives have been changed or improved by this Labour government, and all across the country who struggle to be seen or heard, you’re the reason I came into politics.
To my wife and children, I love you.
Goodbye.
Will Forster (Lib Dem) asks if there will be a bank holiday if England win the World Cup.
Starmer says he does not want to jink tonight’s match. He says Forster should ask on Sunday.
Rupa Huq (Lab) praises the accountability bill (the Hillsborough law) passed yesterday. But she asks if the PM also backs the idea of an accountablity law for “the gutter press”.
Starmer says the bill will stop other injustices like Hillborough. He does not address the press point.
Perran Moon (Lab) says even GB News is now admitted that the PM’s strategy to stop small boats is working. Does the PM support setting up a safe and legal asylum route between Sigma 9 [Count Binface’s planet} and Clacton?
Starmer says migration is down 82%, and small boat crossings are down 40%.
Alison Bennett (Lib Dem) says 1,200 pupils were sent home from school last week in her constituency because South East Water could not provide proper water.
Starmer says that was completely unacceptable.
Danny Kruger (Reform UK) thanks the PM for his service, calling him a “good man”.
But he says Reform UK is the only party putting forward a proper candidate in the Clacton byelection.
He asks who the PM wants to win.
Starmer says Reform believes in recycling politicians. But he says he does not think Kruger expected to spend his time arguing with a bin when he defected.
Alistair Carmichael (Lib Dem) asks if the government will ensure coastguards get proper pay.
Starmer says this is an important issue, and he hopes the government finds a proper solution.
Lola McEvoy (Lab) mentions a constituent who was instrument in persuading the government to stop stranger contact for under-16s on social media. Will the PM any social media moments that have had cut-throught in his household?
Starmer says he got into trouble on a school visit for doing the 6-7 thing. The head told him afterwards this was banned. He says he was ‘“pathetic” in his response, and just said he did not start it.
Julia Buckley (Lab) asks if the PM will agree funds for a new construction centre at a college in her Shrewsbury constituency.
Starmer says he wants more rebalancing, with more focus on further education.
#Burnham #plays #prospect #bringing #wealth #tax #politics #live #Politics
