Burnham Announces Five More "Everyday Fixes" Ahead of Budget

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on 27 October 2026 five additional "everyday fixes" measures, which are contained in the budget due on 28 October 2026.

One of the measures scraps a rule in carer's allowance, a benefit for people looking after someone. Under the existing rule, a small breach of the weekly earnings threshold, meaning the weekly income limit for claimants, could lead to demands to repay thousands of pounds. The Guardian reported the change in its live coverage of the announcement.

Another measure concerns mileage. Employees who use their own cars for work can claim a tax-free amount for each business mile. The UK Government said the Chancellor is locking in the 55p per mile rate for the first 10,000 business miles, while the rate for miles above 10,000 will increase from 25p. The Treasury estimated that three million people will benefit, with savings of £120 a year for a worker doing 6,000 business miles and up to £300 for someone driving 15,000 business miles. GOV.UK published the Government's announcement on 26 October 2026.

The union Unison welcomed the decision to make the higher mileage rates permanent, saying it had campaigned for the uplift. Its general secretary, Andrea Egan, said the government's focus on the cost of living was "commendable", but called for a bolder approach based on making the wealthy pay their fair share.

The Conservatives dismissed the package as little more than "cheaper gherkins" and said it was "an insult to families".

The measures arrive ahead of the first budget delivered by Chancellor John Healey, the finance minister. Before the budget, Healey pledged cheaper marmalade and gherkins as part of a wider "everyday fixes" package involving cuts to tariffs on everyday staples. The tariff plan would remove import taxes on more than 100 products, including marmalade and gherkins, according to the BBC.