A key adviser to Andy Burnham has confirmed that if he becomes prime minister - which, let's be honest, is about as likely as the sun rising tomorrow - he will focus on 'dealing with the cost of living in the short term.' Former Labour minister Miatta Fahnbulleh told the BBC that people 'at the bottom' would have 'more money in their pockets' under a Burnham government, though she stopped short of specifying where that money would come from, exactly.

Fahnbulleh, who has been drawing up policy plans for Burnham's expected coronation as Labour leader and prime minister, said 'we do need to find ways to give people respite and that's about money in their pockets.' Burnham is set to be declared Labour leader next week before taking office on 20 July, after 322 Labour MPs nominated him to replace Sir Keir Starmer.

In an LBC interview last week, Burnham said the government needed to be 'serious about putting more money back into people's pockets' and hinted at tax changes, including reducing business rates for some high street businesses. The Financial Times reports that Fahnbulleh has proposed 'immediately' providing cost-of-living support for energy bills and transport.

Speaking on BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Fahnbulleh said essentials like housing, energy, and transport are too expensive and need to be made 'more affordable through public control.' Burnham has touted 'greater public control' of water and energy, modeled after the bus network he oversaw as Greater Manchester mayor, where private operators bid on franchises.

Conservative shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride warned that Burnham would 'lean more into tax' and inherit Labour backbenchers 'who are not capable of taking the tough decisions' on welfare. But hey, at least people at the bottom might get a few extra quid - eventually.