Andy Burnham told the Cabinet they must 'always show how they are going to pay' for policies – hours after unveiling an unfunded £850million energy bills cut.
After inviting cameras in for the first meeting of his new team, the PM ordered them to focus on the cost of living.
He admitted that axing 5 per cent VAT on electricity bills for six months from October – worth around £25 to households – was 'not everything'.
But the premier argued that 'we will seek to do more'.
Stressing his commitment to the fiscal rules, Mr Burnham said: 'Always we will show how we are going to pay for it, what we are reprioritising. That will be a theme that we will always come back to.'
