𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham was brutally mocked over his 10-year plan by the Tories as he missed Prime Minister’s Questions. Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart joked that he was “old enough to remember” Sir Keir Starmer’s 10-year plan as he clashed with Mr Burnham’s deputy Louise Haigh over the eye-watering benefits bill.

It comes as the Prime Minister, who is in the Caribbean for a Commonwealth summit, prepares his own 10-year plan after replacing Sir Keir at Downing Street in July. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Burghart said: “It’s been briefed, however, that the Prime Minister is preparing a 10-year plan.

“I’m old enough to remember Keir Starmer’s 10-year plan because it was six months ago. This is the only political party in history to have two 10-year plans in 10 months.

“But given that the Labour Party is experimenting with planning, can it commit to reduce this record welfare bill, the highest welfare bill ever, as part of its 10-year plan?”

His comments prompted a noisy reaction and finger-pointing from the Tory benches.

Ms Haigh replied: “The Honourable Gentleman can ask me the same question four or five times and I’m going to keep answering in the same way.

“We are taking steps already to bring the welfare bill down and we’ll take further, we’ve committed to legislate.

“But every week the opposition party comes and brings the same problems with the same messes that we inherited on welfare, on defence, on immigration, on the economy.

“This Labour Government is committed to tackling it all and no matter what he brings we are taking steps to deliver all of it.”