Andy Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, has maintained a conspicuous silence in the House of Commons since being sworn in as the new Member of Parliament for Makerfield on June 22. Despite earning approximately £5,600 in parliamentary salary during this period, Burnham has not delivered any speeches or asked any questions in the chamber.
Burnham's return to Westminster followed a period as a prominent figure outside Parliament, and he is slated to succeed Keir Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister on July 20. Sources indicate that his first parliamentary contribution may come from the despatch box as Prime Minister, potentially not until September after the upcoming six-week summer recess.
This lack of parliamentary engagement has drawn criticism, particularly from the Conservative Party. Kevin Hollinrake, Chairman of the Conservative Party, stated that Burnham appears to have used his Makerfield seat as a stepping stone to the premiership, suggesting a disinterest in the issues affecting his constituents. Hollinrake contrasted Burnham's silence with that of other MPs sworn in on the same day, Douglas Lumsden (Conservative, Aberdeen South) and Lara Bird (SNP, Arbroath and Broughty Ferry), who have made 21 and six contributions respectively.
The Conservatives are calling for Parliament to delay its summer recess for an additional sitting day to allow Burnham to address the Commons and face questions on his policies and ministerial appointments. They argue it is unacceptable for the incoming Prime Minister to avoid scrutiny.
Burnham's team has not responded to requests for comment. His entry into Parliament was marked by an exchange with another MP who heckled him with a line from Monty Python's "Life of Brian," to which Burnham responded, "Naughty boy." Later that day, he was photographed with Labour colleagues, including Deputy Leader Lucy Powell and Parliamentary Labour Party chair Jessica Morden, as well as Cabinet ministers Rachel Reeves, Ed Miliband, and Jonathan Reynolds, and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner. Despite these interactions, Burnham has also reportedly concluded a recent major speech without taking media questions.