Andy Burnham’s “lack of clear plan” has sparked concern for one Labour MP ahead of his likely “coronation” as Prime Minister by the end of July.
Speaking to GB News, Graham Stringer admitted part of his lack of confidence in the Makerfield MP is due to his failure to “allow Labour MPs and journalists to ask him questions”.
The Downing Street hopeful is estimated to impose a cost on the British taxpayer of more than £250billion with his inherited black hole and pledges.
Mr Burnham is said to be considering the reversal of Rachel Reeves’s tax raid on National Insurance Contributions, which would cost between £16billion and £25billion per year.
He has also pledged to nationalise water companies, which Whitehall predicted would cost £100billion.
Discussing Mr Burnham’s pledges on GB News, Mr Stringer admitted a “stark contrast” between Mr Burnham and the outgoing Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.
He said: “I think Andy’s optimistic, and it makes a stark contrast to the outgoing Prime Minister, who is trying to spread a lot of sunshine.
Mr Stringer accused Mr Burnham of “hiding” from scrutiny from both Labour MPs and journalists.
He said: “I’d feel more confident if he would let journalists and Labour MPs and the world ask him questions. Our democracy is built on debate and on asking questions, and he is hiding from it at the moment.
“He should get out there, answer questions and explain what he wants to do.”
The Labour MP stressed: “He’s avoided a general election, it looks as though he will avoid an internal Labour Party election, so it’s really incumbent on him to explain to the Labour Party, explain to the British public what he is going to do about the many problems that face us.”
Mr Stringer suggested that Mr Burnham “doesn’t have a clear view” of his plan for the country should be become Prime Minister.
He told GB News: “I’ve not talked to him since before the Makerfield by-election, but from some of the contradictions in the general statements he made during that by-election, I don’t think he’s got a clear, detailed view of where he wants to go.
“One of the things he said in his speech was he implied we should buy British. When it comes to Government procuring things, well, I think that’s a good idea.”
Mr Stringer argued: “But it’s completely at odds with his view that we would be cosier and happier back in the European Union, who would then control our purchasing policies.
“And you can go through a number of areas where he seems to have made contradictory statements. So I think he’s not quite sure where he wants to go, which I find as a Labour MP and a UK citizen very worrying.”
Asked by host Tom Harwood if there is a parliamentary meeting organised for MPs to ask Andy Burnham questions about his plan for Government, Mr Stringer revealed there is “no plan that he knows of”.
He concluded: “Andy arrived last week and I know he’s been talking informally to some MPs. I suspect they’re the ones that he’s thinking of appointing to ministers.
“He’s not made his maiden speech yet, and before he can be formally recognised in debates according to the rules of the Commons, he has to make that maiden speech. So I don’t know when he’s going to do that, and he really should be getting it onto the Commons floor and making a speech.”
