Deep Dive

Burnham Faces Parliament: Is the Honeymoon Over?

Deep Dive

Show Notes

Prime Minister Andy Burnham would have wanted the summer to go on forever. Since taking office in late July, Labour has enjoyed a bump in the polls amid a flurry of feel-good policies and glossy social media videos.

But discounted bus fares and collaborations with TikTok influencers can only get you so far when the country faces one of the bleakest economic outlooks in decades. Based on current borrowing trends, experts warn the UK is staring at a sobering £14 billion black hole ahead of Burnham's first Budget in October.

Now, a full six weeks into the job, the new Prime Minister has finally faced Parliament - delivering his first statement to the Commons and taking on his inaugural PMQs.

So, how did he do? And what does it tell us about the sort of Prime Minister he'll be? Fresh from Burnham's head-to-head with Kemi Badenoch, Political Editor James Tapsfield joins Chris Pleasance to break down the new PM's first proper taste of scrutiny.

Host: Chris Pleasance Editor: Buddy Peace Executive Producer: Joseph Luke Palmer

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