Andy Burnham pressed on borrowing costs and spending at first PMQs – UK politics live
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1h agoBurnham offers to work with Tories on getting welfare spending down
Kemi Badenoch starts by congratulating the PM “on his stamina – three hours”. (That generates some laughter.) She asks if Burnham can name a single spending request to which he said no.
Burnham says he was clear about the need to get welfare spending down.
It is not right to have so many young people on benefits. He wants to invest in their success.
This is an area where both parties can engage “in problem solving, not point scoring’.
Key events
20m ago
Just Stop Oil protesters block road outside parliament
24m ago
Burnham suggests he has committed to getting defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030
1h ago
Burnham suggests he is open to devolving power over policing to Welsh government
1h ago
Burnham says he wants closer relationship with EU - but ducks Lib Dem challenge to back joining single market
1h ago
Badenoch accuses Burnham of being 'people pleaser', not a leader
1h ago
Burnham offers to work with Tories on getting welfare spending down
2h ago
Burnham faces Badenoch at PMQs
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First minister Rhun ap Iorwerth says Wales faces 'very challenging' budget situation
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Scottish government accused of 'slash and burn' approach to health boards
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Cabinet Office minister Sally Jameson rejects suggestions government does not have firm control of spending
4h ago
Former bank chief Howard Davies joins O'Neill in urging Burnham to scrap pensions triple lock
4h ago
Burnham's Commons speech 'last thing' bond market wanted to hear because it implied more spending, Jim O'Neill says
5h ago
Burnham to take PMQs as borrowing costs rise, and thinktank says higher defence spending not 'realistic' without tax rise
Just Stop Oil protesters block road outside parliament
Just Stop Oil protesters are blockading the road outside parliament, Kate Ferguson from the Sun on Sunday reports.
Burnham suggests he has committed to getting defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030
During PMQs Tan Dhesi, the Labour chair of the Commons defence committee, asked Burnham if he would commit to raising defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.
He said:
double quotation markIt is imperative that we invest in our armed forces in the here and now, rather than be sorry later. Indeed, defence is definitely one area where vibes alone just isn’t going to be enough.
So rather than kick the can down the road waiting for a fiscal event in the future, will the prime minister urgently commit to charting a pathway to reach 3% of GDP spend on defence by 2030, which, as his chancellor rightly noted, is critical to keep our country safe.
John Healey resigned as defence secretary when Keir Starmer was PM because Starmer would not commit to raising defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030. He is now chancellor, but has not publicly committed to reaching the 3% target he insisted was essential by 2030.
In reply, Burnham said:
double quotation markI’ve made that commitment, made it very clear, and I have done for a considerable period of time. And I was in Ukraine last week for a very specific reason to repeat it on the world stage. There [Dhesi] can be absolutely sure of that.
This sounded like a clear commitment to 3% by 2030.
But there was some doubt about his intention because earlier during the exchanges, when Kemi Badenoch said that the armed forces needed a plan to hit 3% now, Burnham in reply just repeated the commitment to get defence spending up to 3.5% by 2035. (See 12.18pm.)
Samantha Niblett (Lab) tells Burnham that this is her first question at a PMQs too. Niblett is the MP who made headlines with her “summer of sex” campaign, and she says he has had a tremendous response to it. She says:
double quotation markI have discovered that shame, guilt and embarrassment around talking about sex and body parts like penis and vagina is even leading to late diagnosis of health conditions and illnesses such as cancer.
She asks if Burnham will meet her to discuss her campaign.
Burnham says he will. He says Niblett has been raising important issues, and he jokes that her summer sounds as if it was more exciting than his.
And that is the end of Burnham’s first PMQs.
Jack Rankin, who has just been appointed as Kemi Badenoch’s PPS, says Burnham did not answer any of Badenoch’s questions. He asks if Burnham can say what the fiscal rules are, and categorically say he will stick to them.
Burnham replies:
double quotation markNo borrowing to fund day to day spending, debt falling as a percentage of GDP by the end of the parliament. And yes, we will.
Danny Kruger (Reform UK) says youth unemployment in Manchester got worse when Burnham was mayor. He says the solution is tax cuts for business.
Burnham says Kruger should look again at the figures. He says he delivered a huge increase in apprenticeships, and Neet numbers went down.
But he offers to work with other parties on youth unemployment.
Helena Dollimore, the Labour MP for Hastings and Rye, welcomes a scheme that will ensure that young people from her constituency get access to the Bayeaux Tapestry exhibition.
Burnham praises Dollimore for her campaigning on this. He says he would like all young people to be able to see the tapestry that they learn about at school.
Andrew George (Lib Dem) asks if Burnham will back his private members’ bill to give local communities more power over housing. He says this is a particularly issue in Cornwall.
Burnham says he will meet George to discuss this.
Burnham says he wants more defence spending going into supporting British industries.
Burnham suggests he is open to devolving power over policing to Welsh government
Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru leader at Westminster, asks Burnham to give the Welsh government control over policing.
Burnham says he will give this proposal a fair hearing.
Kim Leadbeater (Lab) asks what Burnham will do to help people suffering from loneliness, or anti-social behaviour.
Burnham thanks Leadbeater for raising these issues. He raised them in the Makerfield byelection, he says. On antisocial behaviour, he says he accepts the broken windows theory – that small acts of criminality should not be ignored.
Bradley Thomas (Con) asks if Burnham will meet him to discuss a new approach to protecting the green belt.
Burnham says as mayor of Greater Manchester he adopted a brownfield first approach. But there is a balance to be struck, he says. He says the Tories should not turn their back on the need for more homes.
Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance) says the Northern Ireland executive cannot function properly under the rules it has to follow (for cross-community government, giving nationalists and unionists in effect a veto over any decisions). She asks if Burnham will reform the situation.
Burnham says he will address this.
double quotation markOur first responsibility is to get Stormont government up and running and functioning properly with a budget. I’ve empowered the Northern Ireland secretary to go into talks to, to resolve that issue and the broader issues about reform.
Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, accepts Burnham is trying to answer questions, but says he is taking too long. At this rate, they won’t get through all the questions, he says,
Burnham says he wants closer relationship with EU - but ducks Lib Dem challenge to back joining single market
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, says Burnham was right yesterday to blame Brexit for the UK’s lack of growth. The answer to the problem is staring us in the face, he says – join the single market.
Burnham says he is glad Davey accepts his analysis. He says he wants a closer relationship with the EU, building on the work of Keir Starmer. The EU’s “Made in Europe” plan could pose real problems for British steelmakers.
Davey says he hopes Burnham will rejoin the single market.
He says in North Devon a maternity unit has been closed, meaning women have to travel two hours to give birth. They are being taught how to give birth in cars. This is “unthinktable”, he says. Will he commit to reopening the maternity unit within days?
Burnham says he will commit to reopening it – but not within days.
He says there are structural problems with maternity units in the country.