London, Aug 22 (PTI) Andy Burnham marked his first month as British prime minister with a commitment to donate 15 per cent of his salary to charities tackling homelessness as part of a pledge to end rough sleeping on the streets of the country.
Burnham, who took charge at 10 Downing Street on July 20 from Keir Starmer, has used his social media channels to highlight the work being undertaken as part of his focus on tackling the cost-of-living crisis.
As a member of Parliament, Burnham had committed donations to local causes in his constituency of Makerfield in northern England and this week he said his “top up pay” as a PM will also be earmarked for donations.
“For the best part of nine, almost 10 years, I donated 15 per cent of my salary as mayor of Greater Manchester to tackling homelessness in Greater Manchester,” Burnham told the ‘Big Issue’ – a weekly magazine sold to raise funds for the homeless.
Burnham said he is committing to donating the same from his prime minister’s salary. “I’m donating part of my constituency MP salary to local organisations, but the extra bit that comes with being prime minister.” “I wouldn’t want to ask anybody to do anything that I’m not prepared to do. I want to lead from the front. This issue matters massively to me,” he said.
Burnham said he didn’t want to live in a country where walking past people sleeping rough on street corners becomes “commonplace”.
“There are things that we can do. We proved it in the pandemic. We should do it again now and it should just be what we do all the time,” he added.
It is estimated that Burnham would be donating over 26,000 pounds to local causes in his Makerfield constituency and homeless charities.
“The prime minister is leading by example by donating 15 per cent of his salary to the fight against homelessness. This gesture reminds us that homelessness is all our problem and everyone will need to put their shoulder to the wheel to eradicate it,” said ‘Big Issue’ founder Lord John Bird.
Burnham, who has used a more direct approach of addressing the electorate via social media, pointed out that he has already cut tax on electricity bills, capped bus fares at 2 pounds in England, made subscriptions easier to cancel and cracked down on fake discounts within his first month in office.
A focus on technical education, opening 159 new mental health centres, supporting farmers affected by the recent heatwave-induced drought conditions and cutting business rates for pubs, clubs, and music venues were some of the other actions he highlighted.
The Labour Party leader claimed he was in the midst of delivering the “biggest transfer of power, funding and responsibility from Westminster in a generation”.
“It’s a start, but I’m not complacent. I know that people need more and I promise that I will do everything I can to make yours and your family’s lives better. We’re doing things differently to give people more breathing space and bring back hope,” he said.
Burnham is currently on a nationwide “listening” tour across the UK to hear public concerns on the cost of living and everyday financial pressures to shape a 10-year economic and social plan he has committed to release by the end of the year. PTI AK GSP GSP
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