Andy Burnham fails to rule out imposing a 'wealth tax' on Britons as scrutiny-dodging PM-in-waiting finally faces questions on his plans... from Gary Lineker

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 17:11, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 17:27, 15 July 2026 Andy Burnham has failed to rule out imposing a 'wealth tax' on Britons when he becomes PM as he admitted he might 'ask for a little more' during a chat with Gary Lineker. The premier-in-waiting, who will replace Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Monday, said the UK needed a 'greater sense of fairness'. Despite being just days away from taking office, Mr Burnham has so far revealed little of his plans for the country as concerns grow about his mandate to be PM. He has spoken only once in the House of Commons since returning to Parliament as the new Makerfield MP. The former Greater Manchester mayor also exited a major speech at the end of last month without taking questions from the media. Mr Burnham instead opted to selectively answer questions on website Reddit, and he has now spoken in vague terms about what he might do in power during a chat with ex-footballer Lineker. As well as suggesting to the former Match of the Day host that he would be 'very upfront' in areas of disagreement with US President Donald Trump, Mr Burnham signalled he is open to hiking the tax burden. In response to Mr Burnham's comments, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch cautioned the country is facing 'another summer of chaos with Labour obsessing about who they can tax to pay for more benefits'. It comes amid an increasingly bitter fight between senior Labour figures in the race to be named Mr Burnham's Chancellor. Andy Burnham has failed to rule out imposing a 'wealth tax' on Britons when he becomes prime minister as he warned he 'might be having to ask for a little more' After previously dodging questions about his plans for the country, Mr Burnham has now spoken in vague terms about what he might do in power during a chat with Gary Lineker Tory leader Kemi Badenoch cautioned the country is facing 'another summer of chaos with Labour obsessing about who they can tax to pay for more benefits'. Cabinet ministers Ed Miliband, Shabana Mahmood and Yvette Cooper are embroiled in a major briefing war as they all put forward their claim to replace Rachel Reeves in the Treasury. Amid the furious speculation at Westminster about who he might appoint to steer the economy, Mr Burnham was asked by Lineker - who is now focussed on his Goalhanger podcasts company after leaving the BBC - whether he would consider introducing a 'wealth tax' on the 'super-rich' to tackle inequality in the UK. The PM-in-waiting failed to rule out such a move, saying: 'I'm going to obviously take my time to properly look at the state of things, particularly the state of finances. 'You know, I don't want to come in and sort of, if you like, create new divisions and pitch people one against another. 'I'm not going rule things out right now. I do believe we need a greater sense of fairness and people feeling that things are being done in the right way and a fair way.  'But at the same time, you know, I don't want to sort of be perceived as somebody who's coming in with grudges and agendas and, you know, going to just immediately find or demonise one group or create a new way of dividing people.' Mr Burnham added: 'So, you know, decisions to be taken in time, they're going to be difficult. I'm not going to shy away from that. 'You know, we are going to have to work quite hard to make sure, you know, we can pay our way. 'And at some point that might be having to ask for a little more. But, you know, those decisions are not for now. They're for another day.' Mr Trump last month gave his first public reaction to Mr Burnham as Sir Keir's successor, with the US President branding him an 'extremely liberal' politician and 'the mayor of a town'. Mr Burnham indicated he would be willing to disagree with Mr Trump but would try to 'meet him where he's at' while 'respecting the office'. I'll just meet him where he's at,' he said. 'And, you know, I like to think I've got some personality myself and I'll just, you know, I'll deal with him very upfront in the same way. I think he likes people to deal with him. 'He described Manchester as some town when he was referring to my position. And I might have to, you know what Mancs are like, Gary, that won't have gone down fantastically well in the city I used to represent. 'But yeah, you know, it's about being yourself, isn't it? It's about respecting the office, the relationship, the UK-US relationship. 'But, you know, where you disagree, do it, but do it in a way that is kind of meeting him where he's at.' Mr Burnham revealed he would not attend the World Cup final on Sunday, if England reach the conclusion of the tournament, but said Sir Keir 'will be there representing us'. Mrs Badenoch said: 'Andy Burnham isn't even Prime Minister yet but he's already talking about raising your taxes AGAIN. 'We are heading for another summer of chaos with Labour obsessing about who they can tax to pay for more benefits. It doesn’t matter who is in charge, the problem is the Labour Party.' With just days to go until Mr Burnham replaces Sir Keir, reports suggest he has yet to decide who to appoint as his Chancellor. Mr Miliband, the Energy Secretary behind Labour's Net Zero agenda, appears to be the choice of party members. But he has been opposed by figures around the Mr Burnham over his run-ins with business and trade unions.  Ms Cooper, who was a Treasury minister almost 20 years ago under Gordon Brown, and Home Secretary Ms Mahmood, a former shadow Treasury minister, have now been linked with the post. Ms Mahmood is unpopular with Labour's Left because of hardline immigration reforms, and a move would allow Mr Burnham to shake things up at the Home Office.  One veteran Labour MP on the Left of the party told the Daily Mail: 'I don't think Miliband will get No 11. He would be too big a risk.'  Mr Miliband was seen as the least market-friendly candidate in a poll by Bloomberg, while he has also clashed with unions over North Sea oil jobs that could be affected by the push for green power he champions.