# Louise Haigh struggles to match Alex Burghart’s pace at PMQs

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/quentin-letts-the-deputy-pm-the-one-with-the-fraud-conviction-started-jabbering-under-fire-maybe-her-tory-rival-reminded-her-of-a-courtroom-barrister/
- Published: 2026-11-04T15:56:42+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T16:23:21+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16265453/QUENTIN-LETTS-Deputy-PM-one-fraud-conviction-started-jabbering-fire-Maybe-Tory-rival-reminded-courtroom-barrister.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Louise Haigh deputised for Andy Burnham at PMQs.
- Alex Burghart challenged her on welfare spending.
- Haigh’s promise to cut benefits “in a Labour way” drew laughter.

## Summary

Louise Haigh made her first appearance deputising for Andy Burnham at Prime Minister’s Questions, where she faced Conservative questions from Alex Burghart. The article portrays her performance as subdued and difficult to hear, arguing that she struggled to match the pace and confidence expected in the Commons.

Burghart pressed Haigh on spending on working-age welfare and the Government’s plans to reduce the benefits bill. Haigh said the Government was committed to bringing it down “in a Labour way”, prompting laughter; Speaker Lindsay Hoyle also reprimanded a Conservative backbencher for heckling her. The article notes that Kemi Badenoch has assigned Burghart the opposition role at PMQs full-time, and that former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner watched from the front bench.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.