Andy Burnham issues statement on budget after major funding boost announced for Greater Manchester

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Mayor for Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has issued a statement following the announcement of the Labour government's first budget, with a major funding boost also announced for the region and it's transport network.

On Wednesday (October 30), Chancellor Rachel Reeves spent 77 minutes detailing the Treasury's plans for the year ahead. Key changes were announced to the national minimum wage and benefits, including the state pension.

There were several changes to tax which were also confirmed, as well as plans to invest in the country. Key changes announced included an increase in the national minimum wage, set to rise by 6.7 per cent, pensions to rise due to the commitment to the 'triple lock', cuts to alcohol and fuel duty, an increase in state benefits and a NHS funding package. READ MORE Budget 2024: A quick guide to how changes will impact you "The choices that I have made today are the right choices for our country - to restore stability to our public finances, to protect working people, to fix our NHS and to rebuild Britain," she said. "That doesn’t mean these choices are easy, but they are responsible." The budget, announced on Wednesday, will raise taxes by £40bn.

Ms Reeves added: "This is a moment of fundamental choice for Britain. I have made my choices. The responsible choices: to restore stability to our country, to protect working people, more teachers in our schools, more appointments in our NHS, more homes being built, fixing the foundations of our economy, investing in our future, delivering change, rebuilding Britain.” Labour Mayor Andy Burnham issued a public statement on Wednesday night, commending the budget as 'the first since the 1980s to get serious' about the UK's housing crisis.