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Athena Stavrou, Political Reporter
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Athena Stavrou, Political Reporter
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One word has dominated the political news cycle as another whirlwind week in Westminster draws to a close - taxes.
Andy Burnham has spent his week clarifying his plans for Britain's economy once he's in charge of it in just over two short weeks.
While he didn't take questions from the media on Monday, an interview on Thursday evening saw him hint he may look at hiking business rates on giant warehouses, while lifting high street shops and pubs out of having to pay the business rates.
Meanwhile, The Independent's David Maddox reports Burnham is targeting Gen Z voters as he considers giving billions of pounds in tax relief to young people so they can save for a house deposit.
The questions aren't over though, as he's also taken questions from users of an 'Ask me Anything' Reddit forum on Friday afternoon.
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Almost three decades after devolution in Scotland and Wales, could the new prime minister’s plan transform the UK into a federalised state? Sean O’Grady tests the Manchester mayor’s vision
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The new prime minister should assess the real-world impact of taking 40 per cent out of our development budget – and rule out further cuts until we know what damage is being done, writes Lord Paul Boateng
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A tax break for eateries may not make your dinner cheaper today. But, as the famous chef and Britain’s increasingly battered restaurateurs tell Hannah Twiggs, it might mean the pub, cafe or restaurant serving it is still there tomorrow
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Andy Burnham wants to be Britain’s least powerful PM |
Devolution is a tune plenty of leaders have played before. Tony Blair turbo-charged it after 1997, George Osborne promised a Northern Powerhouse, and Boris Johnson made plenty of noise about levelling up. Still, Britain remains top-heavy, with power and wealth concentrated in London.
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Andy Burnham wants to be Britain’s least powerful PM |
Devolution is a tune plenty of leaders have played before. Tony Blair turbo-charged it after 1997, George Osborne promised a Northern Powerhouse, and Boris Johnson made plenty of noise about levelling up. Still, Britain remains top-heavy, with power and wealth concentrated in London.
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What else you need to know
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- Starmer ally Hollie Ridley has announced she will stand down as Labour’s general secretary after two years in the role.
- An ex-Reform candidate who previously suggested people without children should pay more tax has now said they could pay more for their mortgages too.
- Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has announced she is leaving X because the Elon Musk-owned platform “favours abuse and misinformation”.
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Andy Burnham finally gave us a flawless interview … as long as he didn’t mean a word of it
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John Rentoul, Chief Political Commentator
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John Rentoul, Chief Political Commentator
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The “change” he offered in his first interview since returning to parliament was mostly one of mood and sepia-tinted bring-backery.
Bring back council houses. Bring back publicly controlled utilities. Bring back the high street. But how? Who will pay, and what taxes will go up?
He proved more adept than Keir Starmer at avoiding questions and sounding cheerful and optimistic, but let us hope he doesn’t believe that nonsense about “more public control” of energy leading to lower bills.
Read the whole thing here.
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Andy Burnham reveals tax plan to save pubs and high streets
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Andy Burnham has signalled that he will introduce a so-called “Amazon tax” with a massive reform of business rates in a bid to save Britain’s high streets..
Here’s what you had to say:
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I was in a local guitar shop this week. There are very few left but the owner mentioned that they now have people travelling from across the country. Rent is a big factor but so is Council Tax. He mentioned the Council has some discretion but was sympathetic to the fact that they are pressed to deliver social care, etc.
I am not arguing for exceptionalisim , but there may be a case for including independents as oppossed to chains, in scope of the proposal. France and Italy have many more independents compared to UK. We do not need to revive High Streets with Starbucks, McDonalds and the like. We need more independent businesses.
Zint
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He is absolutely right on this. Many high streets are shockingly empty and teeming with all the signs of depression - pawnbrokers, betting shops, fast food... I would add to his agenda making it possible for drivers to find parking near enough to town centres so that you don't have to pay through the nose or keep moving the car every hour. If you really want regeneration you have to make it easy.
Paul
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Europe: The Way Back | Wednesday
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