Migrants crossed the Channel for the first time since Andy Burnham became prime minister on Wednesday, resuming crossings after an 11-day hiatus amid warm, sunny weather. Several boats attempted the journey, with French authorities distributing life jackets and attempting rescues. Home Office figures show 12,469 arrivals so far this year, 47% lower than the same period last year, but the precise reasons for the decline remain elusive.
The crossings come as Burnham faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts. Gary Lineker joined more than 100 UK-based millionaires in a letter organised by the Patriotic Millionaires group, saying: “As millionaires we have a clear message for you, our new Prime Minister: tax us.” The group claims a 2% tax on assets over £10m could raise £24bn. Lineker said: “I’m proud to stand with people across the UK who want to live in a more equal society.”
“Gary Lineker leads 120 millionaires urging new PM to tax wealth as Burnham rules out immediate income tax change.”
Meanwhile, Burnham ruled out an immediate change to the £12,570 tax-free personal allowance, frozen since 2021, which has dragged more people into paying income tax. “There is no commitment at this point to change, but we will look at that at the Budget,” he said, adding that any change would be “difficult given the financial circumstances”. The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates unfreezing the threshold could cost £8.5-9bn a year.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch launched her first intervention since Burnham became PM, accusing him of “still thinking like the mayor of Manchester” and asking: “Is that it?” Burnham also faced warnings from rural campaigners after he announced a £2 cap on single bus tickets in England from 1 January 2027. Debbie Porter, managing director of Destination Digital Marketing, praised the cap but said: “There are 47 million people living outside of metropolitan and city areas… Paying some political and policy attention to this part of the economy is the next step.”
The new PM has told his cabinet he wants to lead a “cost of living government”, but with no immediate tax relief, Channel crossings resurfacing, and demands for wealth taxes, Burnham’s first week is testing his pledge to do politics differently.