All posts tagged: Burnham

Red-faced Andy Burnham apologises over Ann Widdecombe blunder | Politics | News

Red-faced Andy Burnham apologises over Ann Widdecombe blunder | Politics | News

Published by Sam Flores

Andy Burnham has “apologised” and corrected the record after saying an “individual” was “responsible for the murder” of Ann Widdecombe. The Prime Minister was accused of a “breach of the presumption of innocence” by the Tories after his comment during Prime Minister’s Questions. While No 10 declined to comment on Wednesday evening, Mr Burnham has now corrected Hansard, the official record of Parliament. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “A correction has been issued to Hansard, and that will be published in due course.” Asked if the Prime Minister understood the code, she said: “The fact that we have issued an update speaks for itself.” Mr Burnham referred in the chamber to the “individual responsible for the murder” of Miss Widdecombe – a former Conservative minister and Reform UK’s justice spokeswoman – despite the legal process still being in its early stages. Joshua Kerry, 28, was arrested on suspicion of murder on July 11, two days after Miss Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her property in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon. A trial before a High …

Volodymyr Zelensky gets rare honour as he meets King and Andy Burnham | Politics | News

Volodymyr Zelensky gets rare honour as he meets King and Andy Burnham | Politics | News

Published by Sam Flores

Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the King for his “unwavering support” for Ukraine when the pair met at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. The monarch welcomed the Ukrainian president in the Chinese Dining Room of the royal residence in central London ahead of the war leader’s meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham at No 10. Mr Zelensky wrote on X afterwards: “I thank His Majesty King Charles III for the audience. It is important for me to have the opportunity to personally thank him for his unwavering support for Ukraine. We appreciate all the assistance provided by the United Kingdom.” Mr Zelensky travelled to the UK for talks with Mr Burnham, who welcomed him to Downing Street in a show of support after US president Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Russia. The pair embraced when Mr Zelensky arrived at the famous black door on Downing Street, which included an unprecedented honour guard, made up of troops from the Irish Guards. Mr Burnham told Ukraine’s leader that Britain’s support for his nation “will not change”. The Prime Minister said: …

Andy Burnham to meet swimmer Archie Goodburn after emotional plea on BBC Breakfast

Andy Burnham to meet swimmer Archie Goodburn after emotional plea on BBC Breakfast

Published by Daniella Wilson

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn has described his upcoming meeting with prime minister Andy Burnham as a “unique opportunity for change”. The 25-year-old athlete, who was diagnosed with an oligodendroglioma at age 22, will meet with Mr Burnham following an emotional appeal calling for greater action on brain tumours. Goodburn noted his advocacy work has “opened doors to have conversations at the highest level of government about the injustices faced by the brain tumour community”. He previously highlighted how international trials are not taking place in the UK, calling the situation “unfair and unjust” while urging Mr Burnham to appoint a national brain cancer lead. Speaking in tears during a BBC Breakfast appearance, Goodburn said: “Please invest and make the difference. I’m on my knees begging for not just my own life but those who are affected and the families all around the country. “This has to change, it has been …

Andy Burnham Reaffirms Support For Zelenskyy After Donald Trump Attack

Andy Burnham Reaffirms Support For Zelenskyy After Donald Trump Attack

Published by Sam Flores

Britain will double down on its support for Ukraine despite Donald Trump calling for Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be replaced as its president. Andy Burnham said that the UK is ready to go “further and faster” in its backing for Kyiv in its war against Russia. That will include £45 million-worth of surface-to-air missiles and urging other countries to join the UK in banning Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. On Wednesday, Burnham welcome Zelenskyy to Downing Street for the first time time since he became PM in July. The meeting takes place in the wake of Trump agreeing a deal to buy Russian diesel in a move which will help to boost Vladimir Putin’s warchest. He then followed that up by attacking Zelenskyy and demanding that he be removed from office. Burnham’s invitation for the Ukrainian president to visit No.10, made in a phone call between the pair on Saturday, will be seen as a direct riposte to Trump. The PM said: “Our rock-solid support to Ukraine is vital for keeping us safe here in …

Kemi Badenoch accuses Andy Burnham of ‘unpicking’ Brexit deal | Politics | News

Kemi Badenoch accuses Andy Burnham of ‘unpicking’ Brexit deal | Politics | News

Published by Sam Flores

Andy Burnham has faced accusations of “unpicking” the original Brexit agreement following his announcement that a crucial UK-EU summit next month will be utilised to pursue fresh trade arrangements with the bloc. The summit is scheduled for Brussels on November 20, where both parties aim to finalise a new food and drink accord, a youth mobility programme and an emissions trading agreement. On Monday, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of exposing his strategy ahead of negotiations. She told the Commons: “What has the Prime Minister chosen to focus on today? Brexit. Here he is unpicking the deal this country signed with the EU a decade after the referendum. “He is not going to get a better deal. The EU are tough negotiators, and it’s not just that the EU are tough negotiators, he has already revealed his entire negotiating hand. He has just blurted out everything he wants in this statement and I will tell him now, as a former trade secretary, this is not how you conduct negotiations.” Mr Burnham’s …

Politics Home | Andy Burnham Says Brexit Result Was Legitimate Despite Russian Interference

Politics Home | Andy Burnham Says Brexit Result Was Legitimate Despite Russian Interference

Published by Sam Flores

8 October | Andy Burnham attends business forum in Berlin (Alamy) 2 min read51 min Downing Street has said that Andy Burnham does not think Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum affected the result. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said it was “inconceivable” that the Kremlin had not sought to use the referendum to their benefit, but said the Government did not believe it had succeeded. “Given everything we know about Russia, it is inconceivable they did not seek to use the referendum to their benefit. But as the minister [Stephen Doughty] said this morning, we do not believe they have succeeded,” he said.  Downing Street said the Prime Minister “absolutely accepts the referendum result” and, after several attempts at asking, said: “Yes, we do believe the referendum results to be legitimate.” Over the weekend, Burnham appeared on The Rest Is Politics podcast where he claimed that upon entering Downing Street he was told that Russia had interfered with the Brexit vote.  He told the podcast: “I asked the question …

Andy Burnham facing fury over triple lock as thousands sign petition | Politics | News

Andy Burnham facing fury over triple lock as thousands sign petition | Politics | News

Published by Sam Flores

Andy Burnham is facing mounting fury over plans to axe the triple lock as tens of thousands of people have signed a petition against the move. Campaign group Silver Voices relaunched its petition after the Prime Minister announced changes to the policy after the next general election to help pay for his social care reform. Under Mr Burnham’s proposals, the state pension would rise each year by inflation or 2.5%, with the automatic link with increases in average earnings dropped. But 30,000 people have signed Silver Voices’ petition in just over a week in a sign of anger over the plans. Silver Voices director Dennis Reed said: “Older people have seen through the ‘deal’ offered by Andy Burnham – ‘adjust the triple lock and I will give you free social care’. “In fact, many think social care reform was only used as an excuse to get rid of the triple lock, which key Labour advisers like Torsten Bell MP have always hated. “This pathetic ruse is being shown up by the thousands joining our standard. …

Andy Burnham told to abolish Sunday trading laws in England this October | UK | News

Andy Burnham told to abolish Sunday trading laws in England this October | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

Andy Burnham has been told to abolish the Sunday trading laws (Image: Getty) Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been told he must ‘abolish’ Sunday Trading Laws this October as part of his first-ever Budget with new Chancellor John Healey. Ahead of the Budget on October 28, business groups and key organisations across the country were invited to make submissions to the government about key changes the Prime Minister should look to implement in order to boost the economy and stimulate growth. Among the hundreds of submissions, the London Chamber of Commerce has urged Mr Burnham to scrap the law which currently only allows large retailers in England to open for six hours on Sundays. Under the current law, any retailer larger than a certain square footage size (currently 280 square metres) cannot open for more than six hours if they are in England or Wales. It means that most retailers, such as large supermarkets, homeware and department stores, only open from 10am to 4pm. Scotland, however, has its own laws and Sunday Trading Laws do …

Andy Burnham Becomes First UK Prime Minister To Confirm Russia's Role in Brexit

Andy Burnham Becomes First UK Prime Minister To Confirm Russia's Role in Brexit

Published by Sam Flores

Putin and Burnham Andy Burnham has become the first UK prime minister to confirm there was Russian interference in the Brexit vote. Speaking on the Rest is Politics podcast, Burnham said: “I asked the question coming to Downing Street, was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia? “And I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was. “I mean, these things are important now to put clearly on the record, and I believe, help voters in Germany and France understand that some of this politics is instigated via our enemies, namely Russia.” Burnham is the first person in No.10 to confirm the long-suspected theory. Parliament’s intelligence and security committee concluded in 2020 that the government had failed to fully assess the impact Russia had on the seismic EU referendum. Burnham was speaking after he met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier this week, where the two leaders discussed the threat from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The PM said Merz suggested “the AfD is clearly linked to Russia”. He warned that countries have not …