Andy Burnham Faces First PMQs Amid Economic and Political Scrutiny

Burnham pressed on economy at first PMQs as UK borrowing costs rise

Burnham said he had already cut taxes, including VAT on energy bills and hospitality business rates.

Burnham Offers More Style Than Specifics in Parliament Debut

New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham was prepared for a grilling from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch during his first session of prime minister’s questions in the House of Commons, but the surprise attack came from one on his own backbenchers.

By Chloe Chaplain and Alex Wickham

Burnham’s first PMQs showed a leader who wants to please – but knows how to push back

Despite a long absence from parliament, Burnham showed he could hold his own and, despite some nerves, even enjoy himself The coming months will show whether Andy Burnham fits Kemi Badenoch’s charge of a leader too obsessed with being liked to make hard choices. One thing, however, does seem clear from his first outing at prime minister’s questions: he likes saying yes. The very first question came from a political opponent – Ann Davies of Plaid Cymru – but Burnham replied as if she was a val...

By Peter Walker Senior political correspondent

Andy Burnham’s ambitions are already proving too expensive for our economy - The Times

Andy Burnham’s ambitions are already proving too expensive for our economy  The Times

Voices: Who won Andy Burnham’s first PMQs, the prime minister or Kemi Badenoch? Have your say...

Our writers weigh in on which party leader came out on top in the new PM’s first outing at PMQs – plus, tell us what you thought below

By Kate Devlin,John Rentoul,David Maddox and Millie Cooke