Andy Burnham might consider devolving income tax to regional leaders if he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, one of his closest economic advisers has hinted.
Such a change would mean a significant shift of power away from Westminster – something widely expected to be a strong theme in any potential Burnham administration.
Jim O’Neill, the former Goldman Sachs chief economist who advises Burnham and could become his chief economic adviser, told LBC’s Tonight with Andrew Marr that exploring “aspects of income tax” devolution would be “on the agenda to study in a serious way”.
Shorts
Any change would also have to sit within Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT – a commitment Burnham has said he will honour if he becomes prime minister. However, devolving the tax is more complicated than simply raising it.
