ANDY Burnham’s first Cabinet meeting yesterday was overshadowed by an embarrassing failure to spell out how he will pay for key spending commitments.
The new Prime Minister’s cost-of-living plan faced accusations by a scorned ally that the flagship energy bill savings were unfunded.
Andy Burnham’s first cabinet meeting as Prime Minister was overshadowed by a failure to detil spending for his new policies Credit: EPA
Burnham’s cost-of-living plan faced accusations that the flagship energy bill savings were unfunded Credit: EPA
No10 also refused to commit to on defence by 2030, despite demanding the cash when he quit the .
The humiliating episodes — 24 hours after — came even as he told his top team they must “always show how we are going to pay for new policies”.
The Government announced yesterday that from October.
MoneySavingExpert told Times Radio put less than “a pound a week” in people’s pockets.
Ousted Cabinet Minister Darren Jones was sacked over the phone by the new PM Credit: Alamy
Jones disputed Burnham’s claim that the axed digital ID scheme would fund new policies
And ousted Cabinet Minister — who revealed he was over the phone by the new PM — insisted the £850million cost of the move was unfunded.
insisted it would be paid for by .
But Mr Jones said: “The DigitalID program was unfunded. The Government will have to set out how it will pay for its new policies at the Budget.”
Writing in The Sun today, Tory leader says his intervention “blows a hole” in the new administration’s funding claim.
She writes: “Jones should know . . . he was the minister responsible for the very programme Burnham now says will pay for this policy. His verdict was devastating.”
Despite the typical £45-a-year VAT saving, energy firm EDF Energy forecasts the will go up to £1,760 in the , from the current £1,663 — an increase of £97 that will cancel out the saving.
Serious questions were also being raised over whether the new PM will back one of his Chancellor John Healey’s biggest demands.
last month after Sir Keir Starmer refused to commit to lifting defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2030.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says the dispute undermines the new administration’s funding claim Credit: Getty Images
New Chancellor John Healey was previously the Defence Secretary and clashed with former PM Starmer over funding Credit: PA
But yesterday refused to make the same promise, saying they would honour commitments to international partners and set out plans in “due course”.
One minister told The Sun: “This is a really bad look for John. How can he stay in post?” It came despite Mr Burnham hailing Mr Healey’s appointment as a “signal of intent” on defence spending.
No10 has also repeatedly refused to set out funding for flagship promises such as building 500,000 council homes, and failed to say how much it will of troubled or to cut student loan repayments.
The Government also to commit to key policies of the Starmer Government, including the and plans to .
At Mr Burnham’s first gathering of his in Downing Street, he told them that Labour needed “a second chance at a first impression”.
He also said they have to show “discipline” with the public finances and “look for all possible ways” to help the public to “take a little bit of pressure off people’s shoulders”.
The meeting also saw new Foreign Secretary awkwardly applaud John Healey, who pipped him to the job of Chancellor — replacing .
New Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband had been hoping to land the role as Chancellor Credit: PA
Rachel Reeves was axed as Chancellor and turned down the Education Secretary job Credit: PA
She turned down Education Secretary, The Sun can reveal, which paved the way for to get it.
The new Cabinet also marked a return for who will be the PM’s right-hand woman as First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
She had been fired by Sir Keir for .
Previously her new role included oversight of the Public Sector Fraud Authority — but that has been taken off her hands.
Meanwhile, leader is to step down and become a minister after being elevated to the House of Lords.
He was the first senior party voice to call for Sir Keir to resign.
OFFICIAL PARLIAMENT PORTRAITS / Angela Rayner MP Credit: PA Zero zealot
By
THE new Energy Secretary called for Britain to race towards Net Zero by 2034 — going even further than her predecessor Ed Miliband ever planned.
Miatta Fahnbulleh said in 2019 that Government should slash carbon emissions far faster than the current 2050 timeline.
Ms Fahnbulleh wrote in Foreign Affairs magazine that “the goal should be Net Zero carbon emissions within ten to 15 years” with “significant investment in green infrastructure”.
Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho said what Britain really needs is drilling in the North Sea and axing carbon taxes to save industry.
The Government said: “Net Zero is the economic opportunity of the century. We’ve secured £100billion in private investment into clean energy this parliament.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
