Andy Burnham blasts Tory mini-budget a ‘flagrant act of vandalism'

Mayor Andy Burnham has blasted the Conservative’s mini-budget a “flagrant act of vandalism on the social cohesion of this country”.

Speaking to Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Mr Burnham said: “You have a budget that splurges billions on the wealthiest people in the country and actually doesn’t do anything meaningful to get people through the autumn and the winter.

“So honestly, I can barely believe it. Having been through a period of national unity, the way I would describe it, Friday's budget was a flagrant act of vandalism on the social cohesion of this country.

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“The Government has drawn battle lines with working people – they’ve told us which side they’re on.”

Mr Burnham went on to confirm that he thinks Labour should commit to reversing the tax cuts, adding: “I would have said this wasn’t a time for tax cuts.”

On Friday, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng unveiled the biggest programme of tax cuts for 50 years, including abolishing the top rate of income tax for the highest earners.

Analysis of the mini-budget by Resolution Foundation said “only the very richest households in Britain ” will see their incomes grow as a result of the tax cuts.

The wealthiest 5% will see their incomes grow by 2% next year (2023/24), while the other 95% of the population will get poorer as the cost-of-living crisis continues, PA previously reported.

The Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) said only those with incomes of over £155,000 will be net beneficiaries of tax policies announced by the Conservatives over the current Parliament, with the “vast majority of income tax payers paying more tax”.

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