英国新任首相安迪·伯纳姆上台第一天召集内阁会议，宣布从10月1日起免除家庭电费账单的增值税[2][3]。这是政府应对生活成本危机的首项重大政策举措[1]。
该政策预计每户每年平均节省45英镑[2][3]，2026-27财年总成本为8.5亿英镑[2]。伯纳姆敦促内阁各部门探索"所有可能的方式"来缓解民众经济压力[3]。
政府将通过取消未获资助的数字身份计划来为该政策融资，该计划预计在三年内节省18亿英镑[2]。然而，前首席秘书达伦·琼斯对资金安排的可行性提出质疑，称数字身份计划"未获资金"[3]。财政大臣约翰·希利支持这一举措[2]。
更广泛的生活成本纾困措施
除电费减税外，伯纳姆还宣布将国家巴士票价上限从3英镑降至2英镑，减少三分之一[3]。同时，政府计划加快由路易丝·卡西领导的社会保障审查，将原定于2028年完成的审查提前至明年进行[3]。
伯纳姆还表示已放弃提高所得税起征点的计划，并排除了使用国防债券支付更高军事支出的选项[3]。
政策立场与资金问题
商务大臣乔纳森·雷诺兹为该政策辩护称，这是"优先事项的声明"[1]。他指出"这是直接的支出转换，是做出的正确决定，且将由英国人民做出"[1]。
值得注意的是，北爱尔兰消费者将继续支付电费增值税[2]。
伯纳姆还任命前国防大臣约翰·希利为财政大臣[4]，希利被授权平衡政府刺激经济增长与控制公共债务之间的矛盾[4]。英国目前面临自2008年金融危机以来经济长期低迷的局面，年均增长不足1.5%，而公共债务超过国内生产总值的95%[4]。
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced the removal of value-added tax from household electricity bills beginning October 1st, marking his administration's opening salvo in tackling the cost-of-living crisis. [2][3] The measure is expected to save households an average of £45 annually. [2][3][4]
The policy carries a projected annual cost of £850 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year. [2][3] The government plans to fund this initiative through cancellation of an unfunded digital identity program, which is forecast to save £1.8 billion over three years. [2]
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds defended the decision as "a statement of priorities," emphasizing that "it's a straightforward switch spend, it's the right decision to make, and one that will be made by the British people." [1] However, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones has questioned the funding arrangement, noting that the digital ID program was indeed unfunded. [3]
The electricity tax cut will not apply to Northern Ireland consumers, who will continue paying the tax. [2]
On his first day in office, Burnham convened the cabinet and urged departments to explore "all possible ways" to address the cost-of-living pressures facing British households. [3] Beyond the electricity measure, the government has also announced plans to reduce the national bus fare cap from £3 to £2, representing a one-third reduction. [3] Additionally, a social security review conducted by Louise Casey, originally scheduled for completion in 2028, may now be accelerated to next year. [3]
Burnham has ruled out increasing the income tax personal allowance threshold and stated the government will not use defence bonds to finance higher military spending. [3] The government has committed to increasing defence expenditure to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. [4]
The new administration faces significant economic headwinds, including public debt exceeding 95% of GDP, with debt interest payments reaching £111.2 billion annually—consuming 8.3% of government spending as of April. [4] The British economy has grown at an average rate below 1.5% annually since 2009, compared with 3% annual growth in the fifteen years preceding the 2008 financial crisis. [4]