Britain's new PM to cut taxes on electricity bills

Britain’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, plans to cut taxes on electricity bills as part of an effort to ease the cost-of-living crisis, Downing Street said on July 21, citing a statement released Tuesday. The government intends to remove value-added tax (VAT) from domestic electricity bills starting October 1. The statement said the cost for the current financial year would be funded by canceling the government’s £1.8 billion ($2.42 billion) digital ID programme. Burnham’s office had previously said one of his first moves would be scrapping the digital ID scheme aimed at all employees holding a digital identity document, which a cross-party committee of lawmakers described as a “fiasco.” Burnham emphasized the need for faster action to improve living standards after years of stagnation. The report was filed by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru.