Andy Burnham faces his inaugural Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday at noon, a day after fielding 125 questions in a marathon Commons session.
The Prime Minister made his maiden appearance at the despatch box on Tuesday, outlining plans to devolve more power from Westminster to the regions and restore public ownership of utilities and services. He blamed decades of sluggish growth on Margaret Thatcher's legacy, austerity and Brexit, insisting his blueprint to transform the "failed economic model" would revive Britain's economy.
"Britain is not where any of us would wish it to be," he told MPs, adding: "Things are not working as they should, life is too expensive and too hard for too many."
Brits question the point of another session
After Tuesday's 125-question session, some are questioning the value of PMQs. One social media user wrote: "What's the point of PMQs if the wet, weasly f******* never have to bother answering them?" Another said: "We just had a ridiculous over-question sessions so why do we need another one just 24 hours later?!"
During his Commons appearance, which lasted around four hours, Burnham described Britain's water industry as "a leaking monument to that approach, a country run in the private rather than public interest". He refused to confirm whether tax increases will feature in the October 28 Budget.
Government priorities and economic pressures
He hinted his Chancellor John Healey will secure funding to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030 ahead of the next spending review. The Guardian reported Burnham told Cabinet on Tuesday his Government will focus on three areas: cutting the cost of essentials such as childcare and mortgages, revitalising communities, and increasing public oversight of utilities including water, energy and housing.
His ambitions to transform the UK state are likely to be hampered by economic challenges stemming from the Iran war. Government long-term borrowing costs have hit their highest point in 28 years after a global bond market rout partly attributed to signs of intensification in the Middle East conflict and fears inflation might surge.
Burnham is believed to have invited Labour MPs to Downing Street for drinks to charm them after his despatch box appearance, although what they drank has not been revealed.
