Burnham rules out snap election, leaves tax rises open

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ruled out calling a snap general election while declining to promise that households will face no additional taxation in the upcoming October Budget. Speaking during his first foreign visit to Ukraine on Monday, August 24, 2026, Mr. Burnham stated he would honour Labour's 2024 manifesto commitment not to raise National Insurance, income tax, or VAT. However, he stopped short of ruling out other forms of tax increases as his government seeks to fund priorities including housing, social care, and defence. When asked by ITV News whether the public should accept paying more tax to address these pressures, Mr.