Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ruled out an early general election, saying that he has no plans to call one in the next 12 months.
On the Budget, Burnham said on GB News: “Back to the summer, they will recall there was a £5 billion funding shortfall in the defence investment plan, and that’s the here and now that I’ve had to focus on with the Chancellor, and he has confirmed today to the Commons that the defence investment plan is fully funded, and that we are now on a path to meet our NATO commitments, such that the Secretary General of NATO has today recognised that and has praised the UK for the clarity.
“Of course, we can’t do everything in this single budget. We’ve taken big decisions to support 20 million households, 70,000 businesses. These are not small commitments, but we’ve done this budget within the constraints of a very challenging international situation, with all of the implications that has had for finances back at home.”
On criticism that the Budget was not bold enough, he said: “Well, it’s pretty bold to help 20 million households with their energy costs through a council tax cut this winter, it’s bold to lift 70,000 businesses out of business rates altogether, and that will give a real lift to high streets up and down the country.
“Of course, we already announced the plan to take VAT off people’s electricity bills. There’s a whole host of other measures. We’re doing what we can to support people in difficult times, recognising that we don’t have huge room for manoeuvre.
“But as you can see in what the Chancellor has announced, there are strong signs that the economy will improve over the coming years. The fiscal rules are met, so we’ve done all of this within a very prudent and stable approach.”
On the revision of the OBR’s GDP growth forecast down to 1% for next year, he said: “We aren’t immune, obviously, to the pressures on finances coming from the situation in the Middle East and the impact that that’s having on the cost of fuel, on the cost of energy. We can’t insulate people completely from all of those pressures, but within that, we are doing meaningful things to give people that breathing space.
“The £100 back to the vast majority of households, VAT off electricity bills, and what the Chancellor said today, removing the standing charge from gas bills. If you add that up, that is a significant amount of help that is coming people’s way in 2027. Of course, the £2 cap on bus fares as well. So there are significant measures there if you add all of it up.
“And what we’ve tried to do is help everybody. Sometimes I think people will come home from work after a Budget and say, ‘Oh well, nobody’s done anything to help me.’ And what we deliberately decided by going through council tax and bands A to D, we know we were getting to the vast majority of people, often who were just above the line to get any help.
“Well, they’re getting help this year. They’re getting help from this Chancellor. And yes, it’s not everything, but it’s still a recognition that they’re under pressure, and we’re doing what we can to take that pressure off.”
Asked if he could rule out calling a general election in the next 12 months, he said: “I don’t know how many times I’ve done this now, but yes, I can rule out calling a general election in the next 12 months.
“I have said repeatedly since coming into this job. I’m not thinking about myself. I’m not thinking about my own party and its prospects. I am thinking about people, and I’m thinking about what I can do to help them to have that care for people, which I spoke about on my first day in Downing Street. That is where I am. That is what I am trying to do, working with, working with the Chancellor.
“And actually, today I know many people are better off at the end of today than they were yesterday. And that is why I am in this job. I’m leading from the front. I’m putting Britain on a different path. We’ve got a 10-year plan to come, and that will inform the spending review next year. These are my priorities, not looking at our own internal party political advantage.”
