ANDY Burnham has been told to stop acting like Santa and make the tough cuts Britain needs to get back on track.
Iceland boss Lord Walker, the Government’s former cost-of-living tsar, blasted the Prime Minister for piling promises on taxpayers while ducking unpopular decisions.
PM Andy Burnham has been told to stop acting like Santa Credit: PA
Iceland boss Lord Walker, the Government’s former cost-of-living tsar, blasted the Prime Minister Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Jattvibe
Since taking office, Mr Burnham has pledged to axe VAT on household electricity, keep the £2 bus fare cap, end rough sleeping and slash business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues.
But Lord Walker warned Britain can no longer borrow its way out of trouble – and said firms must not be treated like a “piggy bank”.
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He told LBC: “Andy Burnham has been Father Christmas so far, and it would be great if he’d start to get a bit more unpopular.
“For the last 50 years, Chancellors on the Left or the Right haven’t been too dramatic on raising taxes or reducing spending because they’ve been able to borrow a little bit more.
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“Borrowing, increasing borrowing, is now off the table as an option. The bond markets are teaching us that lesson. Therefore, tough choices are now needed.”
His broadside came as Mr Burnham warned that his first Budget next month would be “challenging”, with the war in Iran pushing up oil and gas prices.
Lord Walker said Britain must “stop focusing on the cost-of-living crisis and start focusing on the cost of getting Britain back to work”.
He added: “We cannot, for the sake of us all, keep taxing business and viewing it as a piggy bank that can constantly be raided, because only business creates growth.
“We must therefore start reducing spending – or at least slow the rate at which it is increasing.”
Former Bank of England economist Andy Haldane has also accused the Government of failing to rein in public spending.
But ministers insisted their priority remained helping squeezed families and making everyday life more affordable across the country.
