Andy Burnham, the leader of Greater Manchester, has reportedly delayed tackling the UK's massive welfare bill until next year's Budget, citing that he can only focus on "one big issue at a time". Current estimates suggest the government spends around £1 billion per day on the welfare system. The new Chancellor, John Healey, is expected to include a "mansion tax" in this year's Budget, which would impose a top tier of council tax on owners of large homes worth over £2 million. Labour has been criticized for delaying welfare reform and imposing higher taxes.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Andy Burnham, the Labour leader in Manchester, has delayed addressing the UK's £1 billion a day welfare bill until next year's Budget. This decision comes despite calls for welfare spending to be tightened and the money diverted to the military. The October 28 Budget will instead focus on how to fund an increase in defense spending, which was previously set to reach 3% of GDP by 2030 under a plan that has been shelved. New Chancellor John Healey is said to have agreed with this decision, and also suggested that the budget may include a "mansion tax". Labour's welfare reform plans were supposed to be addressed in this year's Budget, but have been pushed back until next year due to PM Andy Burnham's focus on only one big issue at a time. Critics, including Tory shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately, accuse Labour of "kicking the can down the road" on welfare reform.
Written for “UK Welfare Reforms Delayed” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 3024 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-28
- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
Andy Burnham has reportedly shelved plans to address the UK's massive welfare bill in this year's Budget – as his Chancellor suggested the October economic blueprint will include a 'mansion tax'.
uncertain
blueprint → see → tax
The PM is said to have pushed back any changes to the creaking and bloated benefits system until next year, with aides saying he can only concentrate on 'one big issue at a time'.
asserted
he → say → time
Two reviews into the problems facing the welfare system will not be completed until shortly before the October 28 Budget and he has decided to focus on how to fund a boost to defence spending first.
asserted
he → face → spending
This is despite clarion calls for welfare spending to be tightened and the money diverted to the military.
asserted
money → tighten → military
At the same time, new Chancellor John Healey is said to have shelved plans for defence spending to hit 3 per cent of GDP by 2030, despite resigning as Sir Keir Starmer's defence secretary over a lack of money for the Forces.
asserted
spending → say → Forces
Tory shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said Labour was 'kicking the can down the road on welfare'.
asserted
Labour → say → welfare
All Labour MPs want to do is put up taxes to spend more on benefits,' she said.
asserted
she → want → benefits
Mr Healey also today signalled that the Budget will include a new top tier of council tax that will hit owners of large homes.
asserted
that → signal → homes
Speaking to Sky News he said the tax was 'evolving', adding: 'Some people call it a mansion tax, but this is a top rate that's not there at the moment and it will help make the system just a bit fairer.
asserted
system → speak → moment
The PM is said to have pushed back any changes to the creaking and bloated benefits system until next year, with aides saying he can only concentrate on 'one big issue at a time.'
asserted
he → say → time
John Healey also today signalled that the Budget will include a new top tier of council tax that will hit owners of large homes
'
asserted
that → signal → homes
Because at the moment you've got some people paying the same council tax in different parts of the country for hugely different properties.
asserted
you → get → properties
But these sorts of decisions, if they're relevant to the Budget, I'll set them out in a couple of months time.'
Ministers have admitted that valuation agents will be able to carry out 'internal inspections' of homes to check if they are worth more than the threshold £2million.
asserted
they → set → threshold
Anyone who refuses a visit from the HMRC inspectors would be committing a criminal offence, punishable by a fine of up to £200.
asserted
who → refuse → 200
Last week the former Tory treasury minister hotly tipped to be Mr Burnham's chief economic adviser turned down the role and called for a 'sensible, realistic approach to welfare spending'.
Lord Jim O'Neill denied he had had any policy disagreement with Mr Burnham, but said the UK must tackle welfare spending to bring down debt.
Current estimates suggest the Government is spending around £1billion a day on the spiralling welfare bill.
asserted
Government → tip → bill
Reform's finance spokesman Robert Jenrick said: 'Andy Burnham isn't a fresh start - he's just continuity Labour with a new face.
asserted
he → say → face
'The public are being made to endure the same high taxes, same open borders and the same ballooning benefits bill.'
asserted
public → make → taxes
