Andy Burnham has announced a fresh tax cut to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October, the first in what is expected to be a series of policy announcements on Tuesday morning.
Chancellor John Healey said the cut would be funded from cancelling the Digital ID programme. “For too long, too many people have struggled with the cost of living,” he said. “Today’s energy tax cut will give families some breathing room on bills, and provide some reassurance this winter.”
Mr Burnham was still appointing his cabinet late into Monday night, with Angela Rayner returning to government as housing secretary, Healey named as chancellor and Wes Streeting appointed as defence secretary.
Ed Miliband secured a place as foreign secretary and Shabana Mahmood is remaining as home secretary.
Louise Haigh, who managed Mr Burnham’s Makerfield campaign, has been rewarded for her loyalty with a job at the heart of government as first secretary of state and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, deputy prime minister David Lammy and housing secretary Steve Reed, all allies of Sir Keir Starmer, were sacked by the former mayor of Greater Manchester and have returned to the backbenches.
