On 20 July, when Andy Burnham steps into No 10 as prime minister, he will be greeted by a mountain of urgent missives. Among them is a report from the Children’s Society highlighting the hidden costs of school holidays for families. As millions of children in England and Wales begin their summer break, many face six weeks of loneliness, hunger, and isolation. One child told the charity they were “walking into nothing” as they left the school gates.
Child Poverty Crisis Looms
The Children’s Society report is an early reminder of the deepening child poverty crisis. Around 1.3 million children in England will lose access to free school meals during the holidays, as they do not qualify for the government's holiday activities and food programme, which only supports families with incomes below £7,400. Some councils offer food vouchers, but provision is patchy. Burnham must address this disparity quickly.
Political Donations and Sleaze
Alongside child poverty, Burnham faces the issue of political funding. Recent revelations about Nigel Farage receiving donations from a convicted fraudster and crypto-gambler, which were not declared, add to public perceptions of Westminster as corrupt. A Fairness Foundation poll found that 63% of people believe the very rich have too much political sway. Burnham has an opportunity to cap political donations, as proposed in the representation of the people bill. Stella Creasy’s amendment would cap all donations at £100,000, ending the influence of mega-donors. In 2023, 66% of private donations came from just 19 individuals, according to Transparency International. France already caps individual donations at €7,500 (£6,400) and bans company and trade union donations.
Party Funding and Union Influence
Labour would need to forgo union funding to prove a cap is nonpartisan. Unite, the party’s biggest donor, has voted to cut its national funding by 40% to pressure Labour over the Birmingham bin strike. Its leader, Sharon Graham, was elected by just 4.7% of eligible Unite members. Such influence peddling is legal but damages public trust. Burnham can make his reputation by stamping it out.
Wealth Taxes and Media Pressure
Burnham will also face media campaigns against wealth taxes. The Mail on Sunday claimed he was plotting a “homes tax raid on middle class,” but taxing homes worth over £1.5m would affect only 150,000 mansions. The Institute for Fiscal Studies notes there are 500,000 people in the top 1% of earners, while the median salary is £39,039. The Sunday Telegraph warned against raising capital gains tax, but equalising it with income tax could raise £11bn, a move backed by 46% of the public, including most Tory voters, according to Demos.
First 100 Days
Burnham’s success will depend on decisions made in his first 100 days. He must balance addressing child poverty, capping political donations, and implementing fair tax reforms. The clock is ticking.
