Burnham to face Parliament as prime minister for first time

Andy Burnham is due to address the House of Commons for the first time as prime minister on Tuesday, a moment that could mark the end of his honeymoon period and the start of more demanding parliamentary scrutiny. The Conservatives and Reform UK are preparing to challenge his policies, questioning how they will be funded and whether new tax increases will be required. In anticipation of this showdown, Kemi Badenoch reshuffled her shadow cabinet on Monday, promoting Andrew Griffith to the role of shadow chancellor in order to sharpen her party’s attacks on Labour’s handling of taxation and the economy. The Conservatives have highlighted Griffith’s business background, noting that before entering government he served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer at Sky and as chairman of Just Eat. Griffith has pledged that a Conservative administration would deliver “lower, simpler taxes, get Britain drilling again to bring down energy costs, slash the red tape holding Britain back, and scrap the job‑killing measures in Labour's (Un)Employment Rights Act”. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have pointed out that Griffith previously served as a Treasury minister under Liz Truss and publicly defended her “mini‑budget”. Bridget Phillipson, Labour Party chair, declared that the “Tories' top team is crammed full of the same vandals who hammered household finances and left our public services crumbling”. Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson, warned that Griffith’s appointment shows the Conservatives are “happy to sacrifice any semblance of economic credibility”. The Green Party is also poised to oppose Burnham. Its leader, Zack Polanski, described Burnham’s proposals for greater public ownership of critical services as “just tinkering”. Polanski added that “if he truly wants to bring back hope, he needs to tax the wealthy, take water and energy back under public ownership, bring in rent controls, and say no to new North Sea drilling”. On the prisons issue, the Liberal Democrats have already criticised Burnham’s approach. Justice spokesperson Jess Brown‑Fuller argued that Labour’s pledge to build new cells lacks any new funding and “just how unserious this Government remains about fixing our justice system”. Other pressing challenges for Burnham include defence financing. Analysts question how he will fund the plans inherited from Sir Keir Starmer and how swiftly he can raise spending to meet NATO obligations. Imminent decisions loom over whether to approve fresh oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, whether to take additional steps to alleviate rising energy bills this winter, and whether to increase taxes at the upcoming Budget. Longer‑term debates will also cover welfare reform, social care and the UK’s relationship with the European Union. All of these factors suggest that Tuesday’s appearance before MPs may well signal the conclusion of Burnham’s introductory phase as prime minister and the onset of the substantive work ahead.