Wannabe PM left red-faced as testy encounter with Victoria Derbyshire reveals he ‘clearly would not know.’
Andy Burnham was questioned on Newsnight about his plans for the UK economic system (Picture: BBC)
Would-be PM Andy Burnham did not reply a very easy query on BBC Newsnight – sparking a monumental backlash on-line. The Better Manchester Mayor has confirmed that he’ll attempt to depose Sir Keir Starmer and be part of the race to change into prime minister if he wins the crunch Makerfield by-election on June 18.
The 56-year-old has confronted repeated questions on what he would do if he made it to No 10, along with his staff confirming he would follow Rachel Reeves’s robust fiscal guidelines to safeguard the UK economic system. However when requested by BBC Newsnight presenter Victoria Derbyshire what the Chancellor’s fiscal guidelines have been, Mr Burnham point-blank refused to reply. “I’m not going to undergo a dialogue like an examination on the fiscal guidelines,” he snapped again.
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“Why not?” Derbyshire demanded to know.
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“I do know what the fiscal guidelines are,” he replied, earlier than Derbyshire requested: “Remind us what they’re.”
Mr Burnham dodged the query, saying: “I’ve been very clear about it. I’ve set out a plan that’s inside these guidelines in order that we maintain the self-discipline.”
Referencing his earlier controversial feedback about not wanting Labour to be “in hock to the bond markets”, Mr Burnham stated: “Nothing I’ve stated at any level on this marketing campaign, or earlier than this marketing campaign, has been about ignoring the bond markets or saying that they don’t matter.”
His response has been extensively panned on-line, together with by his greatest political opponents.
Tory Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride stated: “Andy Burnham clearly doesn’t know what the fiscal guidelines are.
“He made an enormous assertion that he would follow them however doesn’t appear to have acquainted himself with what he was committing to.
“And he needs to be prime minister.”
“I am not going to undergo… an examination on the fiscal guidelines.”
Andy Burnham, Labour candidate within the Makerfield by-election, refuses two occasions to inform @vicderbyshire what the fiscal guidelines are, however confirms he’d follow them if he grew to become prime minister.#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/HcML2ot8mI
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) June 5, 2026
And Robert Jenrick characterised Mr Burnham’s place as “I’m sticking with Reeves’s fiscal guidelines, however I don’t know what they’re”.
The Reform UK Treasury spokesman added: “It’s an insult to the British those that that is the most effective Labour can provide.”
A ballot this week gave Mr Burnham a 10-point lead within the by-election over Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon, with Rupert Lowe’s Restore celebration showing to separate the vote on the Proper.
The Better Manchester Mayor admitted on this week’s BBC Query Time that he would make a bid for the Labour management if he wins the by-election.
Requested about his intentions if he wins the seat, he stated: “I’m not any person who will get forward of myself. I can’t do something except I’m fortunate sufficient to get the help of individuals right here.
“But when I get your help, I’d search to characterize you on the highest attainable stage and provides this constituency most energy and affect.
“I believe Wes Streeting appears to have launched a management contest, so if that’s operating, I’d search to hitch it. However I’d have to steer members of the Parliamentary Labour Occasion to do the identical.”
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