The honeymoon’s over, Andy! Burnham under fire on prisoner release and tax as he finally faces MPs today – six weeks after becoming PM
Andy Burnham will face MPs in the House of Commons for the first time as Prime Minister today, six weeks after taking over from Keir Starmer, with the session likely to focus on anger over the prisoner early release scheme and concerns about possible Budget tax rises. Having taken office just as Parliament rose for summer recess, Burnham has so far avoided sustained scrutiny while enjoying a polling bounce, but that boost appears to be fading and he faces questions over a string of policy shifts made during the break.
Burnham will chair Cabinet this morning before addressing the Commons this afternoon, marking his first despatch box appearance since he was a minister 16 years ago; aides say he will set out his broader vision rather than announce major new policies, including arguing that greater public control of utilities can drive economic growth. Chancellor John Healey has acknowledged "difficult" Budget decisions lie ahead, and MPs are expected to press Burnham on summer announcements such as the VAT cut on energy bills and reduced business rates for pubs and clubs. The session will also see his first direct Commons clash with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who has just reshuffled her shadow cabinet, dropping senior figures including Mel Stride and Priti Patel.
- Burnham makes his first Commons statement as PM today.
- Faces scrutiny over prisoner release scheme and looming Budget tax rises.
- First head-to-head Commons clash with Kemi Badenoch.
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Andy Burnham became Prime Minister six weeks ago, taking over from Keir Starmer, but Parliament was in its summer recess for most of that time, so he has not yet faced questioning from MPs in the Commons. That changes today, when he takes part in his first Prime Minister's Questions, the weekly session where the PM answers questions from MPs across all parties, including the Leader of the Opposition. Kemi Badenoch, who leads the Conservative Party, will be his main sparring partner in that exchange.
Two issues are expected to dominate the session. One is a scheme allowing some prisoners to be released early, which has caused public anger, particularly where offenders have gone on to commit further crimes. The other is speculation about tax rises in the government's upcoming Budget, the annual statement in which the Chancellor sets out plans for taxation and public spending; Chancellor John Healey has already signalled that some difficult decisions are coming.
Burnham had enjoyed relatively favourable poll ratings since taking office, partly because he avoided sustained scrutiny during the parliamentary break, but that advantage appears to be narrowing. Today's session matters because it is the first real test of how he handles direct, unscripted questioning as Prime Minister, and how well he can defend a number of policy announcements made over the summer, including changes to energy VAT and business rates for pubs.