Conservative leader says she will not give incoming PM a ‘blank cheque’
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Sunday that incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces a “rude awakening” in office, accusing him of offering “airy fairy” plans and branding him a “people pleaser.”
Badenoch told the BBC she would not give Burnham a “blank cheque” and would “score as many points as possible if it means the right thing for the country.” She said she likes Burnham personally, describing him as a “nice guy,” but added that the job “is not a popularity contest. It is making the lives of all of the people outside this building better. And he has not said what he’s going to do. It’s all airy-fairy stuff.”
In a direct critique of Burnham’s first speech as Labour leader on Friday, Badenoch accused the former Greater Manchester mayor of being “a man who was talking to the Labour Party, not to the country.” She told the BBC: “I’m not sure that he is aware of what the country’s priorities are and if he’s become prime minister without that then I think he’s going to be in for a rude awakening, to use his own words.”
Burnham, who returned to Parliament a month ago in a by-election, spoke at the Trade Union Congress headquarters in London on Friday, pledging to deliver “the most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years.” He made five pledges, including working with other parties in a “distinctively Labour” direction and transferring power from Westminster to local authorities.
He will take over from Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister on Monday, following a reception with King Charles III. Burnham emerged as the sole leadership candidate after being backed by 379 Labour MPs, as well as all 11 trade unions affiliated to the party, earlier this week. He has not yet announced who will fill the top roles in his cabinet ahead of his first address on Monday.