The $154 million mayoral precept

Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester , has been accused of being 'proud of raising taxes' after boasting of hitting Manchester with the highest tax of any regional mayor.

Reform UK's candidate for the Makerfield by-election likened Mr Burnham to the tyrannical 'Sheriff of Nottingham' from Robin Hood , who subjects his people to unaffordable taxes.

The villainous 'Sheriff of Nottingham' in Robin Hood subjects his people to unaffordable taxes. his precepts have increased from Wigan taxpayers over his tenure in this job, and we've seen nothing for it.

Nothing except yellow buses. The buses have changed colour, that's it, while Manchester got skyscrapers.

A 19.4% increase in tax precepts

Mr Burnham's mayoral precept has increased from £76 for an average household in 2019 to £154 this year after a 19.4% increase in February.

However, the Manchester Mayor defended the tax hikes, telling the New Statesman: 'The way I've done it is I've said to people: 'I will do it for a specific purpose to keep the £2 fare cap.'

So, you know, I think it's about how you do things, isn't it?

Labour's restrictive manifesto

Mr Burnham also complained about Labour's 2024 general election manifesto - which explicitly said 'Labour will not increase taxes on working people' - being too 'restrictive'.

He told the Left-wing magazine: 'I look back at the manifesto, and I wouldn't have written it like that myself when it comes to tax. I think it was quite restrictive.'

However he said that a new Labour leader would have to stick to those promises without seeking a new mandate, adding: 'The manifesto has to be stuck to.. That's important.'

Oil and gas drilling in the North Sea

Mr Burnham - who is campaigning to win the Makerfield by-election on June 18 on a pledge to 'change Labour' - said he has an 'open mind' on new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.

Mr Burnham also said he was a 'reluctant Remainer' and suggested he could have stopped Brexit if he had been successful in his bid to be Labour leader in 2015.

Shelved call with hedge fund managers

Meanwhile Mr Burnham appears to have ditched a planned call with hedge fund managers, billed as an opportunity to cool concerns about his economic approach.

But the call was shelved at the 11th hour, according to the Financial Times.