A CABINET Minister was forced to defend Andy Burnham for taking a holiday just 15 days into his Premiership.
The new PM was warned by a senior Labour backbencher that he was making a “mistake”.
A Cabinet Minister was forced to defend Andy Burnham for taking a holiday just 15 days into his Premiership Credit: Reuters
Justice Secretary Alex Norris insisted the PM – whose location is being kept secret by No10 – will be ‘in constant contact with his office’ Credit: UK PARLIAMENT
Backbencher Graham Stringer told Talk: “He will come to regret it.”
But Justice Secretary Alex Norris insisted the PM – whose location is being kept secret by No10 – will be “in constant contact with his office”.
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He added: “ I mean, I might gently say that I’ve spoken to him virtually every day since I joined the cabinet, and I suspect that won’t change.”
Downing Street said Andy Burnham would be taking some time off to spend it with his wife and family. Number 10 refused to say where he was travelling.
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Louise Haigh – previously sacked by ex-PM Sir Keir Starmer over a fraud conviction – is in charge as Mr Burnham’s deputy while he is away from his desk.
It is common for Prime Ministers to take a break in August when Parliament is not sitting.
But Mr Burnham is by far the earliest UK premier to take a holiday after just 15 days into the job he has craved all of his life.
Parliament will return in early September for a couple of weeks before a second recess for the party conference season.
Louise Haigh is in charge as Mr Burnham’s deputy while he is away from his desk Credit: Getty
Rishi Jattvibeak took the longest to take time off after working non-stop for nine months after becoming Prime Minister Credit: Getty
Theresa May comes second closest after jetting off after just four weeks.
Within recent years Rishi Jattvibeak took the longest to take time off after working non-stop for nine months after becoming Prime Minister.
Reform UK blasted Mr Burnham for taking a break this early in his premiership.
Chairman Lee Anderson MP said: “Two weeks into the job and Andy Burnham has already had enough.
“After dropping a number of unfunded commitments and overseeing over 2,000 illegal migrants breaking into our country he’s bunked off for a jolly abroad. This isn’t a Prime Minister that’s serious about leading.”
The Prime Minister also told Elizabeth Day on the How To Fail podcast his wife was shocked he wanted to run again as Labour leader.
He said: “’What? Not again. They told you twice they don’t want you. Why are you doing it again?’”
“No, we’ve always just had honest conversations about it.”
Mr Burnham added: “She took some persuading, to be honest, because I guess she didn’t want to see me go through it all again and then end out on the wrong side, at the end of it. But she gives me good advice.”
Downing Street refused to say where the PM would be travelling.
He will be accompanied by security.
