Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been condemned for taking a holiday after less than three weeks in charge of the country. He took a week-long break as the small boats crisis continued, with 2,057 cross-Channel crossings since he became Prime Minister on July 20.
Who is in charge?
The most senior member of the Government at work now appears to be Louise Haigh, the Cabinet Office Minister, who is First Secretary of State in Mr Burnham's Cabinet, effectively making her Mr Burnham's deputy. Ms Haigh pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation in 2014 after falsely reporting in 2013 to the police that her work mobile phone had been stolen.
Prime Minister's response
The Prime Minister is said to be working while abroad, will be on holiday for a week, but is prepared to come back if needed.
Political backlash
But Reform UK 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 2000 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."
