Matt 💚

***EXCLUSIVE*** Andy Burnham fully rules out changing Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules if he becomes PM At the weekend his team had left it open whether he might change them in future But tonight his spokesperson tells Bloomberg he is explicitly ruling out any changes to the existing fiscal rules AND crucially Burnham is now also ruling out exempting defence spending from the fiscal rules to spend more on the military He had floated that idea in a Bloomberg interview a few weeks ago but his spokesperson tonight says he won’t pursue it This is a big attempt by Burnham’s campaign team to reassure markets who were spooked on Friday by his potential premiership But it may risk disappointing some on the left who had hoped for a more radical fiscal policy It may also mean tax rises are the likely main revenue raiser in the event Burnham wants to increase spending

***EXCLUSIVE*** Andy Burnham fully rules out changing Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules if he becomes PM At the weekend his team had left it open whether he might change them in future But tonight his spokesperson tells Bloomberg he is explicitly ruling out any changes to the existing fiscal rules AND crucially Burnham is now also ruling out exempting defence spending from the fiscal rules to spend more on the military He had floated that idea in a Bloomberg interview a few weeks ago but his spokesperson tonight says he won’t pursue it This is a big attempt by Burnham’s campaign team to reassure markets who were spooked on Friday by his potential premiership But it may risk disappointing some on the left who had hoped for a more radical fiscal policy It may also mean tax rises are the likely main revenue raiser in the event Burnham wants to increase spending

Must be cool to be a Lib Dem right now, just living your best life, contesting a bi-election like a normal political party, no-one telling you that a future Reform government is ALL YOUR FAULT YOU VOTE STEALING ELECTORATE DIVIDING ATTENTION SEEKERS. Sigh.