Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has raised doubts about Andy Burnham’s early agenda, calling him a “people pleaser” and saying his plans for government are too vague as he prepares to become prime minister on Monday. Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Badenoch said Burnham does not appear to understand “what the country’s priorities are.”
Her comments came after Burnham’s speech on Friday at the Trade Union Congress headquarters in London, where he promised to deliver “significant change.” In that speech, the incoming prime minister said he wanted “the most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years.” He also set out five pledges, including working with other parties in a “distinctively Labour” direction and shifting power away from Westminster and toward local authorities.
Badenoch said she was not prepared to give him “a blank cheque.” She told the BBC that what the country needs is a leader willing to make hard choices and stand up to Labour MPs who do not want difficult decisions. She added that she likes Burnham personally, describing him as a “nice guy,” but said popularity is not the point of the job.
“The job is not a popularity contest,” she said. “It is making the lives of all of the people outside this building better.” Badenoch argued that Burnham had not yet said what he would actually do and dismissed his approach as “airy-fairy stuff.”
