Healey said the budget would "meet our fiscal rules" and "give businesses and families some of the stability they need to plan for the future". But Burnham has said his government will stick to Labour's fiscal rules on spending and borrowing as well as the party's 2024 manifesto pledges not to increase income tax, VAT or National Insurance contributions. Healey was defence secretary under Sir Keir but resigned after a row over defence spending commitments, saying he was "certain" that Britain should lift its spending to 3% by 2030. Questioned about funding on Thursday, Burnham's Defence Secretary Wes Streeting repeatedly refused to commit to that target. "Eighty-nine more days for Brits to wait before they know how much their taxes are going to go up to fund Burnham's spending addiction," he said.