Andy Burnham, the Labour Party candidate for the Makerfield byelection, has voiced concerns about the negative impact of the government’s freeze on income tax bands for state pensioners. Highlighting feedback from pensioners during his campaign, Burnham emphasized that the freeze on the personal allowance has increasingly pushed more pensioners into paying tax.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed last year that the current income tax bands will remain unchanged until April 2031. However, Burnham argues this policy should be reconsidered, stating, “Pensioners are saying that what they have gained one way is now being taken away in another.”
The standard Personal Allowance—the amount of income exempt from tax—is set at £12,570 for the 2026–2027 tax year. Income above this threshold is subject to tax rates applied across different bands, which vary in Scotland.
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In addition to tax concerns, Burnham reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) pension triple lock throughout the current parliamentary term, aligning with Labour’s 2024 manifesto. Referring to ongoing challenges such as the winter fuel debate, he stressed the importance of upholding this pledge to maintain trust with voters. While he ruled out changes mid-term, Burnham did not guarantee the triple lock policy’s continuation beyond future elections.