Badenoch says Burnham’s ambitions for Britain are ‘too small’ after business rates cut
8 reported3 unconfirmed
Kemi Badenoch has accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of being too unambitious, using her first major intervention since he became prime minister to say he is stuck with “mayor of Manchester ideas.” Speaking at a speech in central London, the Conservative leader criticized Burnham’s policies such as cheaper bus fares and removing VAT from electricity bills, stating, “Andy Burnham may be a nice guy, may dance well enough, but Britain does not need a prime minister with small answers to big problems.” Badenoch also called on Burnham to get “serious” about cross-party work, noting she had written him a letter offering cooperation but had not received a reply. Separately, the Conservatives criticized the government’s 20% cut to business rates as “the third unfunded spending commitment in three days,” with shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith saying the government has not credibly explained how it will fund its policies. The article also reports that a minister said Burnham’s review of the early release scheme for prisoners might mean it will not go ahead, and that children in England’s poorest areas are 40% more likely to be admitted to hospital for respiratory infections.
What’s reported
Kemi Badenoch accused Andy Burnham of being too unambitious, saying he is stuck with “mayor of Manchester ideas.”
Badenoch criticized Burnham’s policies including cheaper bus fares and removing VAT from electricity bills.
Badenoch said she wrote Burnham a letter offering cross-party work but he has not replied, though he has replied to tweets and made jokes.
Conservative deputy chairman Matt Vickers called the 20% cut to business rates “the third unfunded spending commitment in three days.”
Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said the government has not credibly explained how it will fund its policies.
Chief secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds said Burnham’s review of the early release scheme for prisoners is looking at “implementation” and would not rule out it not going ahead.
An analysis of NHS England data showed children in England’s poorest areas are 40% more likely to be admitted to hospital for respiratory infections.
The analysis revealed 1,941 out of every 100,000 children in the most deprived fifth of England were admitted for respiratory illnesses in 2024/25, compared to 1,380 in the least deprived areas.
Open questions
Whether the prisoner early release scheme will actually go ahead.
How the government will fund its policies including the business rates cut.
Whether Burnham will respond to Badenoch’s letter on cross-party work.
Key figures
Kemi Badenoch, Conservative leader
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister
Andrew Griffith, shadow business secretary
Matt Vickers, Conservative deputy chairman and shadow crime and policing minister
Emma Reynolds, chief secretary to the Treasury
Debbie Adlam, mother of police officer Andrew Harper
Anas Sarwar, former Scottish Labour leader
Monica Lennon, former MSP
Jackie Baillie MSP, Scottish Labour deputy leader
Michael Marra MSP, Scottish Labour finance spokesperson
Paul Sweeney, Glasgow MSP
Miatta Fahnbulleh, energy secretary
Sources: The Guardian
