Chris Mason: Starmer ally takes swipe at Burnham's first big policy
BBC News 2026-07-21 09:00:36
Context: Andy Burnham, the new Prime Minister, has announced his first major policy: cutting VAT from household electricity bills starting October 1. However, his policy has been swiftly criticized by Darren Jones, a former Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and ally of Sir Keir Starmer, who questioned how the policy would be funded. This criticism comes amid a significant cabinet reshuffle following Starmer's departure.
Key Facts
- Darren Jones, former Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, posted on social media that while cutting VAT on electricity bills is a good idea, the government needs to clarify how it will fund its new policies, specifically referencing the unfunded DigitalID program.
- The Office for Budget Responsibility's Economic and Fiscal Outlook from November mentions that no specific funding has been identified for digital ID cards, with an estimated annual cost of £0.6 billion.
- Andy Burnham announced his cabinet lineup, which includes Wes Streeting as defence secretary, a role he took over after resigning as health secretary two months ago.
- Burnham's cabinet also features a significant cull of ministers closest to and most loyal to former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, including Darren Jones, David Lammy, Peter Kyle, Lord Hermer, Steve Reed, and Rachel Reeves.
- Burnham will gather his cabinet for the first time at lunchtime, following its appointment the previous night, and is expected to address how his government will fund its policies.