Downing Street Has Said the Government Will Continue to Function Normally While Prime Minister Andy Burnham Is on Holiday

Downing Street has said the government will continue to function normally while Prime Minister Andy Burnham is on holiday with his family, two weeks after entering No 10. His spokesman said Burnham remains in direct contact with officials and will hold meetings while away. Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson criticised the timing, saying Burnham has "bunked off" after "dropping a number of unfunded commitments and overseeing over 2,000 illegal migrants breaking into our country. Justice Secretary Alex Norris defended the break, noting he has spoken to Burnham virtually every day since joining the cabinet.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she would not criticise the holiday but insisted Burnham should have recalled Parliament to face scrutiny, adding: "Andy Burnham was running away from Parliament - he can't run away forever. The holiday follows a blitz of announcements, including a VAT cut on household electricity bills, business rate cuts for pubs, reinstating a £2 bus fare cap in England, and cross-party talks on social care reform. Burnham also established a "No 10 North" base in Manchester and plans to allocate city mayors a share of income tax.

His last public appearance was in Dover, where he pledged to be "relentless" in curbing small boat arrivals. The location of his holiday is unknown. Former PM Gordon Brown cut short a 2007 Dorset break after a foot-and-mouth outbreak, while Sir Keir Starmer cancelled an August 2024 trip due to riots, later holidaying in Madeira in December. David Cameron frequently stayed in Cornwall with his wife Samantha, giving their daughter Florence a middle name honouring the area.