Burnham’s Past Support for Taxes on Wealth Faces New Scrutiny

Andy Burnham’s commitment to uphold the UK’s borrowing limits may win the would-be prime minister a reprieve with bond investors, but it raises new questions about whether he would need to raise taxes to fund a more ambitious agenda.

The Greater Manchester mayor has frequently expressed an openness to consider increasing taxes since emerging as a potential successor to Starmer. In an interview last year, for instance, he said there was “definitely a case” for raising the top rate of income tax to 50% from 45% currently. He separately called for increasing local taxes on expensive homes.

Andy Burnham speaks at The Great North Investment Summit on May 18.

Photographer: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

“We have ...