Andy Burnham must give mayors get power to slash taxes, Tories say

Andy Burnham must give mayors get power to slash taxes, Tories say English mayors are already getting new powers and more funding to boost regional growth. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Steph Spyro , Deputy political editor and environment editor 06:00, Tue, Oct 27, 2026 Andy Burnham plans to give mayors more powers (Image: Getty) Mayors should get powers to cut taxes instead of only raising them, the Conservatives said.

The party said that mayors will have greater responsibility for the money raised in their areas under Andy Burnham's overhaul of mayoral powers. But they suggested there will be "no new freedom" to use the tax system to put money back into residents’ pockets. Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith MP said: “Labour are so repulsed by the idea that someone would want to give money back to a community, and not just to spend ever-more taxpayers money, that they have been caught giving the lie to genuine devolution by blocking the ability of mayors to cut taxes, not just raise them.”

“The Government must change course and give mayors the freedom to cut taxes.” Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT In July, the Government announced it would give mayors "a share of income tax revenues for the first time". But when asked directly in Parliament this month by Conservatives , Labour Ministers said the changes “will not give mayors powers to change the rates of income tax, business rates or council tax, which will continue to be set under the relevant existing arrangements.”

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You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . Voters in town Burnham desperately needs to win over are fuming at 'Labour lies' Should the UK return to freedom of movement with the EU? Katie Lam MP, Shadow Local Government Secretary, said: “Andy Burnham's agenda for local government is a top-down approach which jacks up taxes without the freedom to reduce the burden on local taxpayers. “Labour will never give mayors the power to let people and businesses keep more of the money they earn because they see taxpayers’ money as the government’s to spend, not people’s to keep."

Chancellor John Healey will use this Wednesday's Budget to hand ​mayors in England new funding and powers, ‌including a £1.5 billion borrowing facility, as part of plans to move economic decision-making out of Westminster. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Mr Healey said he will make the most of "untapped and wasted" potential in cities and regions outside the heart of British politics. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Local leaders are expected to be allowed to keep some of the additional revenues created by a stronger local economy, giving them an incentive to back pro-growth policies.

Taxes Tory Party Conference Andy Burnham Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments