Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, has written a column attacking new Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham's economic approach shortly after he was sworn in. She argues his belief that wealth is under-taxed and the state should play a larger role in the economy is fundamentally wrong, and contrasts it with what she presents as the enterprise-driven success of the Thatcher era in the 1980s, which she says made Britain more prosperous and confident.

Badenoch criticises Burnham's stated plans, including potential nationalisation of industries such as water and the National Lottery, and his pledge to tackle the "cost of living crisis" through higher taxes on the wealthy. She cites figures suggesting take-home pay, adjusted for tax and inflation, is no higher than in 2008, and claims the economy is performing at its worst level in over two centuries, blaming both previous Conservative governments and current Labour policies for stifling business and growth.