𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Keir Starmer quickly earned himself the nickname “Never Here Keir” and “Out of Office” Andy Burnham risks following in his footsteps as he heads abroad for a summer break.

The Prime Minister has been in the job for just two weeks. In that time, he has made a string of unfunded announcements, opened No 10 North and held talks with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky.

But Westminster critics say the “King of the North” has barely settled into the job before taking a break from the day-to-day business of running the country.

Mr Burnham’s much-flaunted commitment to getting out of Westminster and into the country will be temporarily interrupted when he jets abroad for a holiday from Tuesday.

The trip comes amid growing concern among Westminster mandarins about how little time Mr Burnham has spent in Downing Street since becoming Prime Minister.

His tendency to be out and about even prompted First Secretary of State Louise Haigh to joke at a Cabinet Office all-staff meeting last week that No 10 was “extremely distressed” by how often he was away from the building.

She stressed that the Prime Minister was simply “so dedicated and committed” to getting out into the country.

But while Mr Burnham is away, the business of government continues.

Small boat migrants are arriving in droves, tinderbox Britain is scorched, and there is still a cost-of-living crisis that shows no signs of easing.

The Government is also facing warnings of food shortages following the record-breaking temperatures.

All of this will be on the minds of voters with just 12 weeks to go before Chancellor John Healey stands at the Commons Despatch Box to deliver what is widely expected to be painful tax rises.

And when Mr Burnham returns, he will once again turn his sights away from London and embark on a “listening tour” around the country.

Some in Westminster believe the Prime Minister has earned the right to take a break.

The former Manchester mayor went straight from that gig to the streets of Makerfield for a crunch by-election before waltzing into No 10.

But his critics are less forgiving, accusing him instead of being a Prime Minister who is not serious about leading.