Andy Burnham v Kemi Badenoch first PMQs match report
Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch were a good match for each other on their first PMQs together
The much-billed first PMQs between Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch may have been overshadowed by the Prime Minister’s marathon session in the Commons on Tuesday.
But it gave the Conservative leader the opportunity for an early win against her new opponent - who has had a relatively easy time so far.
The match up was full of back and forth, with Mr Burnham proving himself to be a decent performer at the despatch box.
Burnham 0-1 Badenoch
The Leader of the Opposition raced into the lead with an innuendo about the PM’s previous appearance in the Commons - before putting him on the spot about his desire to be a people pleaser.
“Can I congratulate the Prime Minister on his stamina,” she quipped. “Three hours!”
Laughs bounded around the chamber and Mr Burnham gave a wry smile.
She continued: “Yesterday, he faced 125 questions from MPs across the House... But can he name a single spending request to which he answered: ‘no’?”
Burnham 1-1 Badenoch
The PM hit back that he was able to make difficult decisions - and criticised Mrs Badenoch for “point scoring”.
He said that he was “clear in my statement about the need to get the welfare bill down”.
The King in the North used a pretend olive branch to defuse his opponent: “This seems to me to be one area where we can both engage in problem solving rather than point scoring, and I hope the right honourable lady will take up my offer on that point.”
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Burnham 1-2 Badenoch
But Mrs Badenoch, true to her nature, did not give in.
“He did not say no to a single spending request, “she said.
“Personally, I think it's delightful that he wants to make everyone happy.
“But a Prime Minister needs to be a leader, not a people pleaser.”
She went on: “Yesterday, the prime minister told the House that his summer of promises would be paid for by reprioritising within government.
“So, what exactly has he cut?”
Burnham 2-2 Badenoch
Mr Burnham hit back with a zinger: “In terms of ‘what has he cut?’ Tax is the simple answer to that question.”
The Labour MPs cheered loudly as the PM mentioned slashing VAT on electricity bills and cutting business rates for hospitality venues.
The PM said “those commitments are fully funded” by reallocated money from scrapping digital ID.
VAR Correction: Burnham 1-2 Badenoch
The PM’s last point was rebutted by Mrs Badenoch, who pointed out that he “has not said where the money is coming from”.
She also mentioned former chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones saying no money was allocated to digital ID.
The wily Tory leader said: “You cannot cut something that never existed in the first place.”
Burnham 1-3 Badenoch
The Leader of the Opposition smelled blood and doubled her lead.
She said: “Lord O’Neill, a close friend of the Prime Minister, said yesterday’s statement in the Commons was ‘the last thing investors wanted to hear’.”
She continued: “Yesterday the cost of Government borrowing rose to its highest in 18 years. How does the Prime Minister plan to tackle the Government’s rising debt costs?”
Burnham 2-3 Badenoch
The PM managed to halve the deficit by pointing out his record of growth in Greater Manchester.
He said: “I have worked with Jim O’Neill for 10 years. Jim O’Neill always gives me candid advice.
“We do not always agree, but he and I worked together to turn Greater Manchester from a former industrial heartland to the fastest-growing city region in the country.”
Burnham 3-3 Badenoch
The Tory benches groaned at yet another mention of that north-west English city - but they left the goal open for Mr Burnham to equalise.
The PM lashed out: “Conservative members complain, but where are their ideas about growth?
“When they were in government, we saw 14 years of stagnant growth. We saw 14 years of debt rising as a percentage of GDP.
“The turbulence on global markets is because of that exposure that they left behind.”
His side let out a big cheer, grateful to be back level.
Burnham 3-4 Badenoch
The leader of the opposition was not discouraged though, retook the lead.
She said: “The markets are clearly worried that we now have a spendthrift Prime Minister who wants to say yes to everyone but cannot tell us where the money is coming from.
She added: “Will he be honest and tell us: is he preparing to raise taxes again—yes or no?”
Burnham 4-4 Badenoch
The Prime Minister easily equalised again - with the appointment of Liz Truss cheerleader Andrew Griffith as shadow chancellor gifting him an opportunity.
He said: “She took a decision at the weekend: she removed a shadow chancellor who said that the Truss mini-Budget was a mistake and replaced him with one who helped to write the Truss mini-Budget.
“Dare I remind the House that the Leader of the Opposition herself is on record as saying that Liz Truss was ‘100 per cent right’?
“What else can I say in response to all that, other than, ‘God help us!’?
Burnham 5-4 Badenoch
Mrs Badenoch thought she had edged it with a jab about defence spending as she told Mr Burnham “to ditch the vibes and get serious about defending our nation”.
But Mr Burnham saved by saying that he had appointed John Healey - who resigned as defence secretary in June over spending - “because of his strong commitment to the defence of our country and to defence spending.”
He then snuck in a winner with one of his biggest strengths: “vibes”.
He promised to “bring back a sense of positivity, a sense of possibility, with growth in every postcode.
“Let this country believe in itself again; let people have some hope.”
He showed in just a couple of sentences that he understands the public much better than his predecessor.
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