Healey extended the electricity VAT cut extended to July. Gave 20 million households £100 off their energy bills. Extended the fuel duty freeze. Gave a leg up to first-time buyers. Found more for rough sleepers, self-employed fathers and their partners, a northern Olympics bid and devolution. Money, money, money. Healey has got it, or did, and he’s also happy to spread it around.
Most of these giveaways are small beer in government terms. The exceptions are council house building and social care, which could run into tens of billions. But it’s the sheer volume of pledges that fascinates me. What’s his angle?
Sometimes I picture Burnham as a northern impresario, face plastered across a giant star with the slogan: “Everyone’s a winner! Handy Andy’s giving it away!”
Or maybe the cash-in-hand geezer at the market or in a slightly suspect pub. Pockets bulging with rolls of used fivers, licking his thumb, peeling a few off to keep everyone sweet.
Perhaps we shouldn’t complain. When Ed Miliband was given free rein under Keir Starmer, he didn’t sully himself with used fivers. He threw tens of billions around. That’s posh North Londoners for you. Cheeky, cheerful Andy Burnham deals in smaller amounts.
Burnham knows he can’t spend big, given his wafer thin fiscal headroom. But he’s a Labor PM, and has to be seen spending something. He’s banking on a stream of smaller giveaways to keep his profligate party onside.
When we paid by notes and coins, flashing your wad was the ultimate way to look flush. Burnham is buying popularity. With your money. Everyone’s a winner! Except taxpayers.