Sketch writer Quentin Letts recounts a shaky performance by Prime Minister Andy Burnham at his second Prime Minister's Questions, where he fumbled through his notes while facing pointed questions from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on defence funding and the cost of the Chagos Islands deal. The episode, portrayed as a comic set-piece, underscores concerns about Burnham's readiness for the top job and his uncertain command of the despatch box so soon after taking over from Sir Keir Starmer.

Burnham was unable to locate a fact he needed in his A4 folder, eventually turning to two blank pages just as he rose to speak, prompting Badenoch to mock him and dub him "Continuity Keir". He also drew derision for suggesting national security should not come "at the expense of social security", seen as an admission of continued welfare spending, while his parliamentary private secretary, 71-year-old Sir Nic Dakin, offered little help. Despite the mishap, Burnham later won cheers from Labour backbenchers with remarks on Israel policy, and was warmly received by colleagues including Ed Miliband and Lucy Powell after the session.