Kemi Badenoch has launched a scathing attack on Andy Burnham’s plan to fix a “broken Westminster”, declaring devolution is “no silver bullet”.
Speaking to GB News, the Conservative Party leader warned the Downing Street hopeful that should he become the next Prime Minister, she will be “waiting in Parliament” for him with “a lot of questions”.
Setting out his 10-year plan in a speech to the nation today, Mr Burnham laid out how he would deliver the “biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times”.
He said: “The time has come to build the broadest possible coalition of people to lift Britain back up to where we all want it to be.
“After 10 years of political turbulence since Brexit and 20 years of falling living standards since the 2008 financial crash, Westminster has not been working for people, and it has not been working for a very long time.”
Criticising the Makerfield MP, Mrs Badenoch argued he “doesn’t have a plan” and the country is set for a “summer of chaos”.
She told GB News: “He’s just making announcements, he hasn’t thought it through, and this is one of the things that caused us problems as Conservatives. Andy Burnham doesn’t seem to have learned the right lessons.
“If you do what Keir Starmer did or what even Nigel Farage is doing, and just saying things without working out how you’re going to do them, you will run into trouble, and even his premiership won’t last very long unless he comes up with fully worked-up, thought-through plans.”
Pressed by Katherine on the possibility of a general election, Mrs Badenoch made clear that she is “not worried” should one be called.
She said: “I’m not worried at all. It’s very easy to be popular when all you’re doing is spending money that the Government has given you. When you have to take difficult decisions, the popularity disappears.
“Every Prime Minister has learned that being Prime Minister is not a popularity contest. It is nothing like being mayor, it is about making tough choices for the public good.”
Mrs Badenoch stressed: “I’m very happy to fight a general election. It’s never just about the polls, about the agenda you are offering the country. So I’m not worried about a general election at all, bring it on.”
Criticising Mr Burnham’s plan for devolution, Mrs Badenoch warned the Downing Street hopeful it is “not a silver bullet” for fixing the country’s issues.
She said: “What worries me is that Andy Burnham doesn’t want to take tough decisions, he wants to be popular, so he’s going to tell the mayors to sort it out. Mayors can’t fund a Defence Investment Plan.
“He needs to get serious. Devolution is just a process, it doesn’t, in and of itself, fix any problems. Devolution is not a silver bullet, you need to have a plan, and right now Andy Burnham doesn’t have a plan, it’s just vibes.”
Stressing her concerns for defence, the Tory leader told GB News she is “very worried” about whether Mr Burnham plans to bolster defence spending.
She said: “The reason why I say a general election should depend on a Defence Investment Plan not being funded is because we have to focus on the problems that we have right now. I am very worried about defence.
“What’s Andy Burnham’s plan for defence? Where is he going to get the money from? He needs to come to Parliament and explain what it is he’s going to do, rather than stay in Manchester where he feels most comfortable, not answering anybody’s questions. He owes us at least that.”
Issuing a stark warning to Mr Burnham, Mrs Badenoch concluded that although he is a “funny guy”, he “cannot fund the Defence Investment Plan with a tweet”.
She said: “I think he’s a very funny guy, and I sure we’re going to get on, but our politics are very different. So yes, Andy, I know you’re enjoying yourself right now, but things are about to get a lot tougher, and I will be waiting in Parliament for you.
“I have a lot of questions. Maybe the media don’t get to ask him questions, but eventually I will.”
