Head of Campaigns, Andrew Allison (standing in for Mark Littlewood), writes that Andy Burnham's prescription of higher taxes, increased regulation, and more state intervention will not fix broken Britain.

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidise it."  - Ronald Reagan

Andy Burnham eventually answered some questions yesterday. It wasn't a long interview - just over ten minutes and it was with Andrew Marr who can hardly be described as hostile, but the man who wants to do politics differently (which appears to be not taking questions from journalists very often) did give us more broad brush answers as to what a Burnham Premiership has in store for a weary nation. 

The de-facto Prime Minister-elect said that there is movement in Labour's 2024 manifesto on tax. He said that he wanted to lower Business Rates by about 20% for those businesses who perform a "social good": pubs, restaurants, cafes, hairdressers, etc. Perhaps he is concerned that many Labour MPs have been banned from their local pub and that local hairdressers refuse to tend to their follicle needs, but anyone who runs a business in those sectors knows that a 20% reduction wouldn't touch the sides - especially after the massive increases under this Labour Government in the past year or so. 

But to fund this tax cut he intends to increase Business Rates on warehouses on the outskirts of towns and cities. I think that we all know he is referring to Amazon and similar online businesses (which have created tens of thousands of jobs), but such a move would also affect many other businesses, too.

Small reductions for smaller businesses and larger increases for larger businesses. We all know that the tax burden will not be lowered when he arrives in Number 10. The only movement there will be in tax under a Burnham Premiership will be in an upwards trajectory. 

What has united politicians of all stripes this week is the case of Shabir Ahmed - the Rochdale grooming gang leader who was jailed for more than 20 years in 2012, and was predictably released early yesterday after serving 14 years.

This evil man did hold dual British-Pakistani citizenship, but was stripped of the former after his conviction. But we are being told that he can't be deported because as he is a Commonwealth citizen, he arrived in the UK before 1973 and has lived here for more than five years, the Immigration Act 1971 prevents it. 

All that is required is for Parliament to change the law. A specific Bill could be passed relating to Ahmed, but the best way of doing this is through an amendment tabled by Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025. The so-called loophole in the 1971 Act was designed to protect those from the Windrush generation. It was not designed to protect child rapists. 

Pakistan has said that they will refuse to take him. So what? Ministers need to grow a spine, do what is necessary and say to Pakistan that he is their citizen, he is their problem and he will never return to the UK again. 

"Take Back Control" was the slogan of the Vote Leave campaign. And it resonated with 17.4 million voters just over ten years ago in the largest plebiscite in our country's history. Since that vote took place, our politicians (of all political stripes) have failed us.

They have refused to reap the benefits Brexit affords us. They have left the country with depleted defences and have made us an embarrassment on the world stage. They have allowed millions of people to migrate here - directly against voters' wishes, and have failed to deport those who have come here illegally. They can't even deport rapists and murderers. Borrowing is at a record high and taxes are about as high as they possibly can be, but that won't stop Burnham from raising them even further. And I haven't mentioned his plans to nationalise water, gas and electricity. 

Andy Burnham's prescription of higher taxes, increased regulation, and more state intervention will not fix broken Britain. It will do the opposite. Ronald Reagan's quote perfectly sums up Burnham's approach to politics. He tries to package his vague proposals as a new way to do politics, but although you can put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig. 

Keep fighting for freedom!