Government to function as normal while Burnham on holiday, No 10 says
Downing Street insists the prime minister remains in contact with officials during family break, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argues Parliament should have been recalled.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Andy Burnham is taking a family holiday two weeks after entering No 10.
- Downing Street confirms the government will keep operating normally.
- Kemi Badenoch criticises the timing, stating Parliament should have been recalled.
The government under Andy Burnham will continue operating as normal while the new prime minister takes a holiday, Downing Street has announced. Burnham has stepped away from his daily duties to spend time with his family just two weeks after moving into No 10.
His official spokesman confirmed that he will remain in direct contact with officials and continue holding meetings while away from Downing Street. Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Alex Norris defended the decision, telling Sky News on Tuesday that the prime minister is simply taking a few days away with his family.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated she would not criticise Burnham for taking a holiday so early in his tenure, but insisted that he should have recalled Parliament after becoming prime minister to face direct scrutiny from MPs.
Taking a holiday shortly after securing the highest office in the UK frequently draws intense scrutiny from political opponents and the media, as the initial weeks are critical for setting the legislative agenda. Historical precedents show that British prime ministers often face unexpected crises that disrupt their early breaks, highlighting the 24/7 nature of the premiership.
Burnham's holiday, whose location remains undisclosed, follows a rapid blitz of policy announcements during his first fortnight in office. These measures included cutting VAT on household electricity bills, reducing business rates for pubs, reinstating a £2 bus fare cap in England, and holding cross-party talks regarding social care reform. He also established a "No 10 North" base in Manchester and revealed plans to grant English city mayors a share of income tax in exchange for central government grants.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester will likely hope his break runs smoother than Gordon Brown's 2007 holiday in Dorset, which was cut short after just hours due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Similarly, Sir Keir Starmer had to cancel an August 2024 foreign holiday due to nationwide riots, whereas David Cameron famously spent every summer holidaying in Cornwall, even giving his youngest daughter the middle name Endellion after a local area.
Source: BBC Politics
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