Some have welcomed noises coming from the Burnham camp that seem to support changes to property taxes like stamp duty and council tax.
Independent think tank the Centre for London said reform was long overdue, pointing out that a homeowner in a £1.8m five-bedroom house in Kensington could at the moment be paying the same as someone renting in a two bed home in Croydon.
Chief executive Antonia Jennings backs a proportional property tax, based on the value of a property.
“If Andy Burnham is serious about devolution, that principal should apply first and foremost to tax policy.”
London’s mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan welcomed Burnham to the new job, saying he can work closely with a man he has known socially and professionally for many years.
Making sure London gets its fair share of resources will be the challenge – one Burnham addressed when he took over as Labour leader when he said he would be a prime minister for “the north, the south, the east and the west”.
A relief perhaps for London’s ennobled mayor Sir Sadiq, who took the opportunity for a little dig at his predecessor, Boris Johnson.
He said: “There is one example of a mayor who was a terrible prime minister – this one will show it’s possible to be a great prime minister having also been a great mayor.”
