Andy Burnham has been accused of going on a "spending spree" just weeks into his new role as prime minister. Criticised by Tom Pursglove on GB News, the former Conservative Minister joined Ellie Costello and Stephen Dixon on Thursday (5 August).
Borrowing Figures Spark Criticism
Responding to the news that the UK is currently borrowing £4,000 per second, Tom said: "Eye-watering, isn't it? There's various calculations that extrapolate that out to what that costs every household, and that's eye-watering as well."
Slamming Burnham, the politician declared, "You've got a new prime minister who's come into office who's been on a spending spree. I suspect probably the most relieved person in the country at the moment is the Chancellor [John Healey], [now] that the prime minister's gone on holiday, because that at least gives him respite to work out how the hell he's gonna pay for this when it comes to the budget."
Reaction to Holiday Timing
"It's the same old Labour, isn't it?" he fumed. "This is what they do. Spend more money, borrow more, tax us more and drive unemployment." While Stephen Dixon pointed out that borrowing isn't always a bad thing, and that it could stimulate the economy in the long run, Tom argued that Burnham and his government needed to answer questions, clarifying how long they intend to borrow for, and how they plan to stimulate the economy.
"I think it's a complete dereliction of duty to be appointed as Prime Minister once Parliament went into recess, and then not to come back because the country does need certainty," he continued. "We do need answers to these questions, and I think that would help to settle some of the market anxiety about this."
A humiliating blow for Burnham, the PM has come under fire for heading on his summer holidays just two weeks after stepping into office. A decision which has sparked much debate, Tory MP Nick Fletcher launched into a scathing rant on TalkTV.
MP Calls Holiday 'Disgraceful'
"Our Prime Minister going on holiday within a fortnight is absolutely disgraceful. When you take that job on, and the country is in the state that it's in, you cannot go on holiday. It's an absolute joke!" he said on Tuesday (4 August).
