A row has grown over Labour’s handling of Andy Burnham’s move into Downing Street, with opposition parties arguing he should face MPs before Parliament breaks up for the summer. The dispute matters because Burnham is on course to become prime minister without a general election or a contested Labour leadership race, making early parliamentary scrutiny a test of his democratic legitimacy and openness.

According to the report, Conservatives tried to use Commons time to force a debate that would have kept MPs sitting longer so Burnham could be questioned, but Labour instead scheduled a debate on Iran. Critics say that leaves Burnham taking office before facing full Commons scrutiny, raising the prospect of Parliament being recalled in August if pressure builds. The wider backdrop is Burnham’s rapid rise after securing overwhelming Labour MP backing, while opponents have branded the process a coronation and criticised him as lacking a direct public mandate.