See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy SAM MERRIMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 22:44 BST, 8 June 2026 | Updated: 00:44 BST, 9 June 2026
Taxpayer-funded spending on consultants has more than tripled during Andy Burnham's time as Mayor of Greater Manchester, new figures show.The Labour mayor's authority is now shelling out almost £27million on external consultants each year - despite Mr Burnham previously branding similar spending 'indefensible'.Under Mr Burnham, Greater Manchester Combined Authority's spending on management consultants has risen from £8.7million in 2019 to £26.9million in 2025, according to figures from data analytics firm Tussell.It comes after Labour pledged to reduce public sector spending on management consultants after criticism of the rising costs for taxpayers.But the revelation will spark fears about Mr Burnham's spending plans if he is successful in his bid to return to Westminster to challenge Sir Keir Starmer later this month.The Conservatives accused Mr Burnham of 'hypocrisy' and said it was a classic case of 'do as I say, not as I do' from the Manchester Mayor.Mr Burnham previously criticised NHS spending on management consultants when he was shadow health secretary, describing it as 'indefensible' waste and claiming private firms were having 'a field day' under the Tories.Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: 'This is classic do as I say, not as I do from Andy Burnham. The same man who branded spending on management consultants 'indefensible' has overseen that bill more than tripling as Mayor of Greater Manchester. Under Mr Burnham, Greater Manchester Combined Authority's spending on management consultants has risen from £8.7million in 2019 to £26.9million in 2025, new figures show Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused Mr Burnham of 'hypocrisy' and said it was a classic case of 'do as I say, not as I do' from the Manchester Mayor 'While hiking his share of council tax by over 600 per cent, Burnham has signed off on a £26.9million consultancy boom. It's pure hypocrisy and Greater Manchester taxpayers will rightly be asking what they've got to show for it.'During the general election Labour pledged to halve spending on consultants and after entering Government Sir Keir vowed to cut 'unnecessary' spending and save £1.2billion by this year [2026].Callum McGoldrick, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said the figures demonstrate 'rank hypocrisy' from Mr Burnham.He said: 'For a politician who once blasted consultant spending as 'indefensible' waste to then oversee a tripling of the bill on his own watch is a kick in the teeth for local taxpayers.'While Mancunians tighten their belts, the Mayor is keeping the gravy train rolling. He must practice what he preaches and halt this consulting bonanza.'Mr Burnham, who will challenge the Prime Minister if he wins the Makerfield by-election on June 18, was last week compared to the 'Sheriff of Nottingham' after he boasted of hitting Manchester with the highest tax of any mayor.Mr Burnham told the New Statesman that 'I have raised taxes in Greater Manchester', adding: 'If you look at my mayoral precept, it's significantly higher than anyone else's.'Elected mayors can raise a so-called mayoral precept - a sum on top of council tax for local services - although most mayors currently do not.Mr Burnham's mayoral precept has increased from £76 for an average household in 2019 to £154 this year after a 19.4 per cent increase in February. He said he had done so to keep a £2 cap on bus fares.Mr Burnham and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) were approached for comment.
