Burnham fielded questions from Reddit users on a range of topics and confirmed some policy positions.<\/p>\n
He said he would seek to negotiate a returns agreement for failed refugees, including with Taliban-run Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
He said he would not scrap the triple lock, a policy introduced by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government which guarantees the state pension goes up each year in line with either inflation, wage increases or 2.5% – whichever is the highest.<\/p>\n
“I appreciate there’s a lot of debate about this but it is important that the commitment in the manifesto stands,” he told one user.<\/p>\n
He also promised to work for a closer relationship with the EU. Last September, Burnham said he would like to see the UK re-join the bloc within his lifetime, but during the Makerfield by-election campaign in May promised not to “re-run” Brexit arguments.<\/p>\n
Asked on Reddit if he would look at a closer relationship and negotiate a more ambitious trade deal, Burnham said: “Yes, I will build on the good work the government has already done in this area.”<\/p>\n
He also suggested he was still in favour of reforming how Britain’s electoral system works, having previously expressed support for replacing the first-past-the-post system with a form of proportional representation.<\/p>\n
“I will seek to persuade my own party of the need for a manifesto commitment to it in the next manifesto,” he told one user.<\/p>\n
Burnham has committed to sticking to key elements of Labour’s election-winning manifesto – including Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules on borrowing.<\/p>\n
In an interview with LBC’s Andrew Marr on Thursday, he said he would stick to the pledges Labour made not to raise VAT, income tax or national insurance, and would not be “indisciplined” with the public finances.<\/p>\n
But he said there was “some room” for movement on tax, suggesting business rates on warehouses could be increased to fund tax cuts for pubs and some high-street businesses.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest items in his in-tray if he steps into No 10 will be the issue of how to fund an increase in defence spending.<\/p>\n