'Scared' Burnham ducks questioning: Tory bid to quiz next PM before summer recess is scuppered by Labour antics

By MARTIN BECKFORD, POLICY EDITOR Published: 23:27, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 23:28, 14 July 2026 Andy Burnham was accused of 'running scared' on Tuesday night after MPs were denied the chance to quiz him until after the summer. He will become Prime Minister on Monday but the Commons rises for its summer break on Thursday so he will be spared scrutiny for six weeks. The Conservatives have been calling for one extra day next week so Mr Burnham could give a statement – and face questions – and planned to put pressure on the Government by holding a vote on Wednesday.  But on Tuesday in an unprecedented move ministers cancelled the Opposition Day debate, saying the time was needed to discuss Iran instead. It means Mr Burnham, who won so many backings no rival candidate can now be nominated, will not answer questions from MPs until September 1. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch led the outrage, saying: 'In an unprecedented move, Labour have scrapped the Conservative vote to force Andy Burnham to come to Parliament to answer questions when he becomes PM on Monday.  Labour are running scared because they know the honeymoon will be over the minute he has to tell us his plans.' Andy Burnham was accused of 'running scared' on Tuesday night after MPs were denied the chance to quiz him until after the summer On Tuesday night Boris Johnson dubbed Mr Burnham – who has only given one speech since returning to Westminster last month and had not spoken in the Commons until last night – the 'Mancunian mystery'.  The former prime minister said the next inhabitant of No 10 needs to 'get his skates on' as he 'hasn't got much time'. Leader of the House Sir Alan Campbell sparked anger in the Commons when he declared there would be a 'general debate on Iran' instead of the debates, 'followed by a motion to approve a statutory instrument relating to national security'. His opposite number Jesse Norman, who had led calls for an extra sitting day on Monday when Mr Burnham enters Downing Street, said: 'This is a total humiliation and embarrassment for the Government. 'The Government changed the business and refused to delay the activity of this House by even one day to permit the Prime Minister, as he will be, to make a statement and to answer questions.' He added: 'Let me remind us all, that Prime Minister has been chosen by a coronation, not a contest, with no known platform, almost no known policies and no idea of his priorities or his Cabinet team. 'This is the worst possible exit for a Prime Minister... and the worst possible start for a new Prime Minister.  'People across this country will see what has happened, and they will conclude that this is a man who is frit, running scared of public scrutiny.' Sir Alan, who is responsible for scheduling Government business, insisted he had no idea the Tories were planning to table a motion calling for the summer break to be delayed until Monday. Liberal Democrat MP Bobby Dean added: 'The country will be wondering why, although we have effectively known for weeks who the new Prime Minister will be, it will be months before he faces any parliamentary scrutiny on his plans.'  Sir Alan replied: 'The reality is that if a new administration is formed on Monday, it will take some time to get that administration in to place.' Tory MP Katie Lam said: 'We will have no chance for a month and a half to scrutinise the Prime Minister's plans.  'I ask the Leader of the House genuinely: how does he think that looks to the people who send us here?'