Badenoch Attacks Burnham's 5 Pledges as He Prepares to Become Prime Minister
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 18
Badenoch Attacks Burnham's 5 Pledges as He Prepares to Become Prime Minister
1 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 18
Summary
Monday's handover to Andy Burnham drew an early broadside from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who called him a "people pleaser" and said his plans for government were "airy fairy."
Friday's Labour leadership speech triggered the attack: Burnham promised "significant change" and set out five pledges, including cross-party working and shifting power from Westminster to local authorities.
Badenoch said Burnham was speaking to Labour's factions rather than the country, arguing he had not shown he understood national priorities or could take difficult decisions.
379 Labour MPs and all 11 affiliated trade unions backed Burnham in the leadership race, but he has still not revealed who will fill the top cabinet posts before his first address on Monday.