𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham has been slammed by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch as a “people pleaser” with “airy fairy” plans. The new Labour leader will formally become Prime Minister on Monday, when he reportedly intends to make a “dynamic” start to his premiership.

Plans to provide “breathing space” on the cost of living and boost economic growth across the UK could include approving new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, but his ambitions remain largely uncertain, with new Cabinet appointments also not yet confirmed. Ms Badenoch criticised Mr Burnham for not setting out his approach before Monday in an interview with the BBC, describing his comments so far as “airy fairy stuff”. The Tory leader also told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that she thought Mr Burnham was a “people pleaser” rather than someone who would make “tough decisions”.

While the former Manchester Mayor has pledged to reach out to other parties and end a culture of political “point scoring” in Westminster, Ms Badenoch said she would “score as many points as possible if it means the right thing for the country”.

“What I’m not going to do is give Andy Burnham a blank cheque,” she added. “This is a man who doesn’t want scrutiny, he doesn’t want anyone asking him tough questions, he just wants to be a people pleaser.”

Mr Burnham has already faced resistance to reports that he is considering backing new oil and gas projects, a move that would break a promise in Labour’s 2024 manifesto.

Industry leaders and trade union bosses have urged Mr Burnham to back North Sea oil and gas, arguing that it would reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports from “volatile regions” that involve higher emissions.

But MPs, including the Green Party’s Adrian Ramsey, have warned that drilling would be “exactly the wrong response” to “climate and nature crises” and “do nothing to bring down energy bills”.

Mr Burnham’s support for oil and gas projects could also be complicated by his choice of Chancellor, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who has been a staunch supporter of Labour’s commitment not to drill, among the top contenders.