UK finance minister Healey to pitch ‘optimistic’ economic plan ahead of Burnham’s first Budget

A handout photograph released by the UK Parliament’s House of Commons shows Britain’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham (3rd left) and Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey (centre), listening to a question during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQ) session in the House of Commons, in central London, on September, 2026, his first since becoming Prime Minister. — UK Parliament’s House of Commons handout/AFP pic

First Published: Monday, 07 Sep 2026 1:30 PM MYT

LONDON, Sept 7 — Britain’s finance minister John Healey today will lay out his economic agenda ahead of fledgeling Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first budget in October, seeking to deliver on pledges to ease living costs.

Despite a grim economic outlook for the country buffeted by high costs of living, youth unemployment and energy prices driven higher by the US-Iran war, Healey is set to paint a cautiously optimistic picture.

In his first major speech as chancellor of the exchequer, Healey is expected to set out plans to write “a new story about Britain. An optimistic story. One of resilience”, according to a press release by the treasury.

These include cutting government red tape and a new £150-million (RM808 million) fund to boost business innovation in northern England, in line with Burnham’s aim to devolve economic and political power to regions outside London.

“I want to see wealth creation in this country. I want to see businesses make a profit,” Healey is expected to say in his speech, repeating Burnham’s mantra of “growth in every postcode”.

“The Chancellor will also make clear that good growth is indivisible from fiscal discipline at any time, but especially in a time of global uncertainty,” the treasury press release added.

Little wiggle room 

Earlier this weekend, Healey told the Financial Times he would use the October 28 budget to create a “buffer against uncertainty”.

He has previously committed to following the fiscal rules laid out by his predecessor Rachel Reeves to meet day-to-day spending with government revenue.

The chancellor has remained vague about possible tax rises or additional financial support for households that could be unveiled in the budget.

Since entering government in July, Burnham has offered the British public several low-cost sweeteners, including cheaper bus fares and a tax cut on electricity bills.

He has also decided to ease a tax on pubs and other hospitality venues.

But multi-decade-high yields on government bonds and an eye-watering debt are squeezing any fiscal headroom.

Sceptics say the financial constraints mean Burnham will struggle to find the wiggle room to fund bigger commitments, including greater public control of utilities, ending rough sleeping and plugging a huge gap in defence spending.

Healey, who resigned as defence minister from ex-prime minister Keir Starmer’s government accusing the treasury of insufficient military funding, is under pressure to recommit to raising defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2030. — AFP