Kemi Badenoch takes brutal swipe at Andy Burnham as she pokes holes in his 'mistaken beliefs'

Kemi Badenoch has taken a brutal swipe at Andy Burnham as she poked holes in his "mistaken beliefs" before he even steps foot in No10.

Ahead of his first major speech as an MP, where he expected to set out a number of proposals to accelerate regional devolution, Mrs Badenoch pounced on the lack of business on the Burnham agenda.

Speaking to crowds in the heart of central London, the North West Essex MP said: "Burnham's devolution agenda, unlike ours, is stripped of private enterprise and ownership.

"It is loaded with Labour's instincts: more public control, more regulation, more taxes, all of the very things which have caused the problems we have today."

She warned the increased devolution would feed "more Government created all over the country, more politicians, more outsourcing of decisions to bodies with even less scrutiny and accountability".

"If you look under the hood of Andy Burnham's proposals, you will find at their core a mistaken belief, the belief that it is government that creates growth. It is not. It is business that creates growth," Mrs Badenoch condemned.

"It is business that creates jobs. And business is absent from Andy Burnham's agenda.

"Politicians are there to create the conditions for growth and then get out of the way. Low tax, simple regulations, stable government, cheap energy. If you don't fix those things, nothing will grow in your economy."

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'Slim pickings!' Kemi Badenoch tells GB News who should NOT be the next Chancellor of the Exchequer

Kemi Badenoch has told GB News who should not be the next Chancellor of the Exchequer, admitting that Labour has "slim pickings".

She mocked Labour for failing to find a leader across their own MPs, instead having to catapult the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester back into Parliament.

Mrs Badenoch also warned against Ed Miliband becoming the Chancellor, warning that he would "make us poorer" and end up "bankrupting the country".

Kemi Badenoch tells Britons to brace for 'summer of chaos' under lame duck Prime Minister

Kemi Badenoch has told Britons to gear up for a "summer of chaos" under lame duck Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

Mrs Badenoch said: "We have a caretaker Prime Minister, barely in office, definitely not in power.

"All major policy and spending decisions have been put on hold. The last Defence Secretary resigned because the money needed to keep Britain safe has not been found. Ministers at the Home Office are fighting each other."

'We've reached breaking point!' Mel Stride sets out Labour's failures in damning takedown

Sir Mel Stride has set out Labour's failures in a scathing takedown this morning.

The Shadow Chancellor said: "This Labour Government has failed. They have spent, borrowed, taxed, and regulated until our economy has reached breaking point. We have seen jobs destroyed, businesses closing, investors fleeing.

"As Kemi will set out to you now, we are the only party with a plan to do that, and the only party who can deliver it."

'You should have resigned with Keir Starmer,' Kemi Badenoch tells Rachel Reeves

Kemi Badenoch has said that Rachel Reeves should have resigned alongside Sir Keir Starmer.

Sir Keir resigned last Monday after Andy Burnham was catapulted back into the heart of Westminster when he won the Makerfield by-election.

The Tory leader said: “Rachel Reeves is ringing round businesses, trying to get them to say that sacking her would risk destabilising the economy, as if that hasn’t happened already.

"What she should have had was the good grace to resign alongside Keir Starmer."

Andy Burnham could dodge scrutiny until SEPTEMBER even as Prime Minister

Andy Burnham could dodge any scrutiny thrown his way until September as Richard Tice hurls criticism at "power without accountability".

Mr Burnham has been widely criticised by lobby journalists for refusing to take questions from the press following his major speech later this morning.

And the leadership frontrunner would not have to face Prime Minister's Questions until the autumn as MPs will leave Westminster for the summer recess by the time the Makerfield MP ascends to the top job.

Fuming at the lack of scrutiny, Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice said: "No debate in Parliament. No scrutiny from MPs until September. Power without accountability."

'Spot on!' Wes Streeting backs Andy Burnham's plan for 'biggest devolution of power in modern history'

Wes Streeting has come out in support of Andy Burnham's plan to complete the "biggest devolution of power in modern history".

He said: "The UK remains one of the world’s biggest economies, but it’s also deeply unequal.

"We need more growth engines in more places, with power, wealth and opportunity in every part of the country. Andy Burnham's plans for biggest devolution of power in modern history are spot on."

Robert Jenrick shrugs off suggestions that Andy Burnham is 'the man to beat Reform UK' following shock poll

Robert Jenrick has issued a response to suggestions that Andy Burnham is the "man to beat Reform UK".

Over the weekend, a shock poll revealed that support for Labour, led by the Makerfield MP, would leapfrog Reform UK's support.

"Look, if that is the zenith of Andy Burnham, then it is all downhill from here on in," Mr Jenrick replied.

"And I am confident that the British public will see through Andy Burnham very quickly indeed.

"I think people are going to find that Andy Burnham talks a good talk, but there's no substance behind it at all.

"And this is at a moment where the British public want to see radical change being delivered quickly, to stop the boats, to bring down energy prices, tobring back good jobs, to get people's livelihoods back up again after a period of stagnation. It's going to be a big, big disappointment."

'He hasn't even walked into No10 yet!' Robert Jenrick ridicules Andy Burnham who is 'already playing for time' in 10-year turnaround

Robert Jenrick has ridiculed Andy Burnham for 'already playing for time before even walking into No10' ahead of the MP setting out a 10-year vision for Britain.

"I'm all for spreading prosperity and opportunity across the country. I'm from the Midlands," Reform's Treasury spokesman told GB News.

"I want to see every person in this country have lower energy bills, better prospects, good jobs, benefit from a stronger country. But I don't see any of that in what's being announced today.

"This sounds like it is just a load of waffle. Andy Burnham hasn't even walked into number ten and he's already playing for time. He's saying it's going to take him 10 years to turn this country around."

He added that people "can't wait" that long and that voters are "crying out for radical change".

'Northern No10 won't fix the welfare bill,' Mel Stride takes aim at Andy Burnham on GB News

Sir Mel Stride has taken aim at Andy Burnham on GB News this morning over his plans to devolve further power across England.

Mr Burnham is examining taking Britain's power-sharing to the next level by creating a No10 in the North - although critics and allies alike have questioned how such an organisation would operate.

While the Shadow Chancellor said that further devolution could be a "positive" development, he fell short of encouraging Mr Burnham to complete his agenda.

"The Conservatives, of course, we brought in a substantial amount of devolution back in the 2010s... There was very much part of a Conservative design and that approach can work," he told GB News.

"And so I'm not saying that there might not be space here for further devolution in a positive way. But moving an office of No10 physically up to the North of the country doesn't actually address the fundamental issues.

"And right in the centre of those fundamental issues is getting on top of the welfare bill."

Andy Burnham calls for 'change in way Britain is governed' in lead-up to major speech

Andy Burnham has called for a change in the way Britain is governed in the lead-up to his first major speech as Makerfield MP later this morning.

In the speech, the leadership frontrunner is expected to layout his plans if he were to become Prime Minister, which could become a reality as soon as next month.

"Changing who governs Britain isn’t enough. We need to change how Britain is governed," he said this morning.

Keir Starmer branded 'plastic patriot' after breaking with 16-year St George's Cross tradition

Sir Keir Starmer has been branded a "plastic patriot" after quietly scrapping a 16-year-strong tradition to fly the St George's Cross.

The famed football fan Prime Minister has chosen not to drape the English flag across Downing Street for the World Cup despite pledging to "fly our flag proudly" on St George's Day this year.

Former Prime Ministers have either flown the flag on matchdays or for the entire tournament, a tradition which began in earnest under David Cameron in 2010.

Then-Local Government Minister Grant Shapps at the time urged councils across the country to show their support "to avoid accusations of being overzealous or spoilsports".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Tories describe Andy Burnham's plan as 'politics of distraction' ahead of first major speech as MP

The Conservative Party has described Andy Burnham's plan as the "politics of distraction" ahead of the Makerfield MP's first major speech.

The Labour leadership frontrunner will set out his 10-year plan for Britain later this morning.

But, before he can even get a word in, the Tory Party chairman, Kevin Hollinrake said: "Andy Burnham's big idea is to shuffle power between politicians.

"Not fix the welfare system. Not cut the taxes strangling working families and British business. Not fund the defence our country desperately needs. Just more devolution, more committees, more process.

"It's the politics of distraction from a Labour Party that is deliberately avoiding the questions that actually matter."

And across the pond... Andy Burnham braces for first public spat with Donald Trump over Britain's faltering defence spending

Andy Burnham is bracing for a clash with the White House as soon as he walks into No10 over Britain's faltering defence spending.

The US is not confident Britain will honour a commitment to allocate five per cent of GDP on defence - with insiders revealing how Washington believes the UK and other European nations have offered a "false promise" on Nato.

Mr Burnham is thought to have indicated to allies he will boost defence spending.

But that may not be enough for the Commander-in-Chief - whose growing frustration with the alliance and its Secretary General Mark Rutte has left US personnel stationed in Brussels "nervous" Mr Trump may skip the July 7 Nato summit in Ankara altogether.

There may yet be a reprieve, though.

Shortly before his return to the Oval Office, it was widely reported that Mr Trump would publicly call for five per cent commitments - but settle for 3.5 per cent.

A White House spokesman said alliance members must assume greater "responsibility for their own defence" when questioned about Britain's spending plans by The Telegraph.

"Nato members must take greater responsibility for their own defence and all of them should have been there for the United States when we were in the middle of the successful Operation Epic Fury," they blasted.

Internal rebellion already brewing in Andy Burnham's Labour... before he even takes over

Some Labour MPs are already sounding uneasy when confronted by news of Andy Burnham's speech today.

The Makerfield MP is centring the address around the idea of "the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times".

But onlookers have pointed out similarities between both Sir Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson's plans to devolve - which Mr Burnham appears to already feel the need to fix.

Sir Keir had promised the "biggest ever transfer of political power" and "boldest devolution project in a generation" through devolution deals across England, expanding mayors' powers and passing a "Take Back Control Act".

Mr Johnson had pursued the "levelling up agenda" - which was rebranded as "Pride In Place" or "Local Government" under this Labour Government.

One Labour MP told the FT they harboured worries about Mr Burnham's emphasis on the North.

"It's all very well going on about the North West but we do have loads of seats in London and elsewhere in the south... I'm worried that Andy could alienate them if he overdoes it," the MP, who sits in London, told the newspaper.

Mel Stride joins Tory assault on Andy Burnham with chilling warning - 'All the signs are there!'

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride last night joined the Tories' broadside against Andy Burnham, branding the Prime Minister-in-waiting's tax plans a "disaster".

"We are about to see what a real left-wing Government looks like," Sir Mel warned. "It's clear that Burnham will double down on the mistakes Starmer and Reeves have made.

"All the signs are that he has no ideas other than yet more borrowing, taxes and spending."

Though Mr Burnham is not expected to set out detailed tax policies in his "10-year plan" speech today, allies have suggested his programme could include a property tax which will punish Britons who enjoy valuable homes through careful planning or saving.

He may also hammer ambitious investors with an increase to capital gains tax - as well as a new form of "death tax".

So far, Mr Burnham has backed Labour's "fiscal rules" - but he is thought to believe they can be stretched to allow the state to borrow billions of pounds more.

RECAP: Andy Burnham to unveil 10-year plan for power in major speech outlining how he will govern as PM

Andy Burnham will pledge to give Britain the "circuit-breaker it needs" in his major speech unveiling his plans for devolution and the economy with ambitions for a decade of Labour government.

In Manchester, he will confirm a flagship proposal to move part of his prime ministerial operation to the North of England, and outline his plans for "good growth in every postcode" with what allies have billed as the largest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times.

In a mirror to two-year Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's own former pledges, Mr Burnham will also detail his plans for a "10-year mission" to raise living standards through reindustrialisation, housing, infrastructure and reform of essential utilities.

Mr Burnham will set out plans to boost economic growth by giving regional mayors more control over social housing, welfare and post-16 education, according to The Times.

But that sparked warnings of leaving No10 rudderless - just as the country stares at war abroad, a ballooning benefits bill at home and a migrant crisis on the South Coast.

Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake MP dismissed Mr Burnham’s plans as "the politics of distraction", saying Mr Burnham's "big idea" is to "shuffle power between politicians, not fix the welfare system".

READ THE FULL STORY ON ANDY BURNHAM'S PLAN FOR POWER HERE