What has Burnham promised since he became PM, and when will it happen?
From cutting household bills to moving power out of Westminster, how will the measures announced unfold?Andy Burnham has floated a number of policies, ideas and ambitions for his g
By The Guardian
Andy Burnham has set out a string of promises since becoming prime minister, but many are described as ambitions rather than firm commitments. Among the clearest pledges are scrapping VAT on household electricity bills from October, capping single bus fares across England at £2 from January, and extending free bus travel for disabled people in England from April 2027.
He has also promised a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, social clubs and most live-music venues from April next year. Other reported plans include moving more power out of Westminster and increasing public control over services, although the report stresses that not all of these have been fixed in detail.
The Guardian also says the government is treating some measures as phased changes rather than immediate action. In the case of bus passes for disabled people, ministers have delayed implementation until next spring so councils can prepare and legislation can be changed.
The article frames Burnham’s first days in office as a mix of headline pledges, costings and timetable questions. The clearest dates mentioned are October, January, April next year and April 2027.