![Burnham Backtracks on Proposals to Raise Personal Tax Allowance</TITLE]Andy Burnham has distanced himself from previous remarks regarding an increase to the tax-free personal allowance.The current £12,570 threshold has remained frozen since 2021, effectively pulling more taxpayers into the system as wages rise.Speaking to the Times over the weekend, Burnham noted that the “frustration about the personal allowance” expressed by constituents during the Makerfield by-election campaign had remained “lodged in my mind.”On Monday, the Prime Minister informed reporters that the matter would be reviewed during the upcoming budget, though he acknowledged that any adjustments would be costly and “difficult given the financial circumstances in which we find ourselves.”Sources close to Burnham have since clarified to BBC News that adjusting the personal allowance was not a core component of his initial cost-of-living strategy.This clarification follows comments made during Burnham’s first cabinet meeting, where he emphasized the need for “fiscal discipline” and a commitment to upholding fiscal rules, even if it requires “difficult decisions.”Burnham remains committed to the 2024 Labour manifesto, which pledges not to raise the basic, higher, or additional income tax rates. This commitment effectively precludes raising the top tax rate for high earners to fund a higher personal allowance.The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that unfreezing the current threshold could result in an annual cost of between £8.5bn and £9bn.Burnham remarked on Monday that his earlier comments were intended to demonstrate “visibility of the issue and the impact it’s had.”While he reiterated that the issue would be “looked at” in the Budget, he concluded: “Obviously it’s difficult, given the financial circumstances in which we find ourselves.”](https://i2.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/branded_news/1200/cpsprodpb/c0f0/live/aef0e940-855e-11f1-bee8-53ce494e1abc.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "Burnham Backtracks on Proposals to Raise Personal Tax Allowance</TITLE]Andy Burnham has distanced himself from previous remarks regarding an increase to the tax-free personal allowance.The current £12,570 threshold has remained frozen since 2021, effectively pulling more taxpayers into the system as wages rise.Speaking to the Times over the weekend, Burnham noted that the “frustration about the personal allowance” expressed by constituents during the Makerfield by-election campaign had remained “lodged in my mind.”On Monday, the Prime Minister informed reporters that the matter would be reviewed during the upcoming budget, though he acknowledged that any adjustments would be costly and “difficult given the financial circumstances in which we find ourselves.”Sources close to Burnham have since clarified to BBC News that adjusting the personal allowance was not a core component of his initial cost-of-living strategy.This clarification follows comments made during Burnham’s first cabinet meeting, where he emphasized the need for “fiscal discipline” and a commitment to upholding fiscal rules, even if it requires “difficult decisions.”Burnham remains committed to the 2024 Labour manifesto, which pledges not to raise the basic, higher, or additional income tax rates. This commitment effectively precludes raising the top tax rate for high earners to fund a higher personal allowance.The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that unfreezing the current threshold could result in an annual cost of between £8.5bn and £9bn.Burnham remarked on Monday that his earlier comments were intended to demonstrate “visibility of the issue and the impact it’s had.”While he reiterated that the issue would be “looked at” in the Budget, he concluded: “Obviously it’s difficult, given the financial circumstances in which we find ourselves.”")
Eight people were killed and 14 others injured in rain‑related incidents across Gujranwala, Narowal, Pakpattan and Lahore when heavy rainfall hit the region on Tuesday. Gujranwala recorded 238 mm, surpassing its 10‑year record, while Gujrat received 153 mm.
According to a Gujrat correspondent, the intense downpour in Gujranwala, Gujrat and Sialkot triggered severe urban flooding that brought daily life in these industrial zones to a standstill.
In Gujranwala alone, at least six people—mostly children—were killed and ten were injured in various rain‑related mishaps. A trailer also slipped into a ditch on the GT Road Bypass in Gujrat. Rescue officials said the fatalities resulted from collapsing roofs and walls, drowning and electrocution.
In Gujranwala, two siblings, Usman (10) and Sameer (6), were among those killed in the Dhaley area. Shaheen (7) and a six‑month‑old, Shayan, died near Naushera Virkan Road. A child drowned in a pond at an underpass in Kamoke, and Hanaan was electrocuted in the Bakhteywala area. Sameera Bibi (25) and six‑month‑old Mowais were severely injured when buried under rubble. The collapse of a rice‑mill wall on Tatle Aali Kamunki Road near Kamoke caused the death of Fahad Hussain and serious injuries to Arif and Mahmood.
Rain breaks 10-year record in Gujranwala city, submerges Gujrat, Narowal
In Gujranwala, Hanan Ikram (25) was shopping on Allama Iqbal Road when he was struck by an electrified pole and died from electrocution. On Naushera Virkan Road, a house roof collapsed, killing Shaheen (7) and six‑month‑old Shan Ali and injuring Salmi Bibi (33), Sana (10) and Khadija (5). In Zaheer Colony, another roof collapse injured Sidra Nadeem (28), Sameera Nadeem (14) and Saira Nadeem (10), all seriously, after they were buried under the debris.
After a ten‑hour downpour, the main roads and side streets of Gujrat and Gujranwala were inundated, bringing commerce and normal activities to a halt. Gujranwala suffered the most severe impact, aggravated by heavy rains and ongoing excavation work on GT Road for a metro‑bus link between Eminabad and Gakhar Mandi.
In Pakpattan, two minor children were killed and their mother injured when the roof of their house collapsed during the rain at Chak Dehwana (33/SP).
Nasreen Bibi, a daily‑wage farm worker, took shelter with her family in a room of their dilapidated house when heavy rain started at noon. The roof collapsed, killing her children Noor Fatima (8) and Usman (6) and leaving Nasreen critically injured. In Lahore, a factory roof collapsed near Band Road in the Gulshan‑e‑Ravi area while plastic bottles were being produced; four workers were present. Rescue 1122 retrieved the trapped workers, who sustained minor injuries, and administered first aid on site. Heavy rain also affected many districts of Lahore. Nishtar Town recorded the highest rainfall at 84 mm, followed by Johar Town (51 mm), the airport (36 mm), Kahna (34.4 mm) and Upper Mall (33 mm). Additional recorded totals included Gulshan‑i‑Ravi (30 mm), Samanabad (27 mm), Head Office Gulberg (24 mm), Laxmi Chowk (22 mm), Iqbal Town (22 mm), Pani Wala Talab (22 mm), Jail Road (18 mm), Saggian (18 mm), Chowk Nakhuda (15 mm), Tajpura (12 mm), Farrukhabad (12 mm), Shadipura (12 mm), Mughalpura (10.2 mm), Defence Road (6 mm) and Manawan (5.2 mm).
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- Burnham Backtracks on Proposals to Raise Personal Tax Allowance</TITLE]Andy Burnham has distanced himself from previous remarks regarding an increase to the tax-free personal allowance.The current £12,570 threshold has remained frozen since 2021, effectively pulling more taxpayers into the system as wages rise.Speaking to the Times over the weekend, Burnham noted that the “frustration about the personal allowance” expressed by constituents during the Makerfield by-election campaign had remained “lodged in my mind.”On Monday, the Prime Minister informed reporters that the matter would be reviewed during the upcoming budget, though he acknowledged that any adjustments would be costly and “difficult given the financial circumstances in which we find ourselves.”Sources close to Burnham have since clarified to BBC News that adjusting the personal allowance was not a core component of his initial cost-of-living strategy.This clarification follows comments made during Burnham’s first cabinet meeting, where he emphasized the need for “fiscal discipline” and a commitment to upholding fiscal rules, even if it requires “difficult decisions.”Burnham remains committed to the 2024 Labour manifesto, which pledges not to raise the basic, higher, or additional income tax rates. This commitment effectively precludes raising the top tax rate for high earners to fund a higher personal allowance.The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that unfreezing the current threshold could result in an annual cost of between £8.5bn and £9bn.Burnham remarked on Monday that his earlier comments were intended to demonstrate “visibility of the issue and the impact it’s had.”While he reiterated that the issue would be “looked at” in the Budget, he concluded: “Obviously it’s difficult, given the financial circumstances in which we find ourselves.”
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