£96billion tax raid to pay for Burnham’s big spree as Tories claim PM’s pledges will cost families an extra £4,300 a year: ‘He’s writing cheques the public can’t cash’
The Conservatives have accused Andy Burnham of unveiling a £96billion spending spree that would need to be funded by tax rises, warning that his pledges could cost the average family an extra £4,300 a year. A Tory spokesperson said Burnham was "writing cheques the public can't cash", framing the figures as evidence that his plans are unaffordable without significant tax increases on households.
Related concerns reported alongside the story include fears that Burnham could introduce a 10% "death tax" levy on all inheritances, worth an estimated £18billion, to fund social care, a move Robert Jenrick argues voters have already rejected four times and which he says should trigger a fresh election. Burnham has also been reported to be breaking with Tony Blair-era New Labour policy by dropping the target of sending half of young people to university, while Kemi Badenoch has separately challenged him to scrap an early-release scheme for prisoners.
- Tories claim Burnham's £96billion spending plans need major tax rises.
- Families could face an extra £4,300 a year, Conservatives say.
- Fears also raised over a possible 10% inheritance "death tax".