'This must be the least scrutinised new prime minister of all time,' the Conservative Party chairman said
Kevin Hollinrake has accused Andy Burnham of “dodging scrutiny” after Labour intervened to prevent the incoming prime minister from being questioned by MPs.
Speaking to GB News, the Conservative Party chairman posed a direct challenge to the former Manchester mayor, saying: “What are you hiding from?”
Yesterday, MPs accused the incoming Labour leader of “running scared” after an attempt by the Conservatives to force a vote on extending Parliament’s sitting so MPs could question Mr Burnham’s Government was cancelled.
The planned Opposition Day debate tomorrow, when the Tories would have forced the vote, was replaced with a different debate by Labour whips.
Instead, MPs will break for a six-week summer holiday tomorrow.
“This must be the least scrutinised new Prime Minister of all time,” Mr Hollinrake fumed.
“He seems to want to avoid any kind of questions on anything he believes, any of his policies, either from you or indeed from Parliament itself,” he told the People's Channel.
Mr Hollinrake described the decision to block the debate as an “unprecedented move” from Labour.
He argued an Opposition Day debate had not been cancelled before because the Government objected to its subject.
“All we're asking for is one extra day, one day, to scrutinise the new Prime Minister," he stated.
“Nobody's asked any questions about what his policies are going to be."
The Tory chairman said MPs wanted answers on issues including taxation, welfare reform and defence spending.
He said: “Time and time again, whether it's from the press or whether it's in Parliament, all he wants to do is try and avoid scrutiny.”
Mr Hollinrake added Mr Bunrham was already beginning to draw comparisons to outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
He said Sir Keir would be remembered as “a man who couldn't lead his troops” who had repeatedly “backed down” in the face of pressure.
The Tory MP also suggested Mr Burnham was showing similarly flakey policy tendencies to his predecessor.
He argued the incoming prime minister had managed to perform a number of U-turns, accusations that blighted his predecessor's premiership.
Mr Hollinrake accused Mr Burnham of backtracking on issues including WASPI women, migrant benefits and fiscal policy.
He said: “It's very important that we elect a prime minister who knows exactly what they want to do. That was not the case with Keir Starmer. I fear it won't be the case with Andy Burnham."
