‘We need to be careful’: Andy Burnham’s team keenly aware of fiscal tightrope

From the publisher

Andy Burnham has not quite gone for Keir Starmer’s extreme caution in the run-up to entering No 10 – but he is certainly aware that any early wrong moves would cost him. Back in 2024, Starmer was criticised for his “Ming vase” strategy of treading very carefully so as not to drop a valuable metaphorical piece of china being carried across the room. He was meticulous before entering office, giving little away on policy and insisting on ironclad fiscal discipline, but things began to crack in the first few months of government over winter fuel payments, the freebies scandal and blunders in appointing his top team. Now Burnham has been…

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