Burnham says Israel sanctions are example of Britain ‘showing leadership’
Badenoch says Burnham talks about the last government. But the last government was Keir Starmer’s, and it fails.
She accuses Burnham of being “continuity Keir”.
Burnham replies:
She mentions leadership. Let me tell her and the whole house where Britain is showing leadership.
There have been Conservative politicians at this despatch box, Labour politicians too, for decades, who’ve talked about the importance of the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
Words from any politician about a two-state solution will be only words if it’s not backed with action. And leadership is about taking action.
Where there is injustice, where we need to correct unfairness, people being driven out of their homes, losing their homes, being intimidated in their daily lives, I credit the father of the house [Edward Leigh] who yesterday applauded the action that this government is taking in this difficult and dangerous world.
Britain has to stand for something. Britain has to show leadership. Britain has to stand for fairness against injustice.
Where people are being bullied out of their homes, intimidated, we will always stand with the underdog and take what action we can to support them. That is leadership on the world stage, Britain being true to what it’s always been about.
That is what the British people expect of us, and that is what this government will do.
Key events
Bernard Jenkin (Con) asks about the risk of the Israel sanctions decision putting cooperation with the Israeli security services at risk.
Burnham says the government took advice from the security services before taking this decision.
He says the risk of the two-state solution collapsing was too high.
He says he agrees with Edward Leigh’s assessment yesterday.
Cat Eccles (Lab) pays tribute to the fire service for their work with the fires at Stourbridge.
Burnham says he will be charing a summit on wildfires. He says the fire service is not set up to deal with these problems.
Daisy Cooper (Lib Dem) asks about mental health provision in Hertfordshire. Will the PM back her campaign for a new facility there?
Burnham says that is a good question. Cooper is right to point to wasted spending in the health system, when people have to be sent a long way for care. A mental health strategy will be put to the Commons before Christmas, he says.
Chris Law (SNP) asks if Burnham accepts the Scots have the same right to decide there own future as the people of Northern Ireland.
Burnham says the Good Friday agreement says there should be a border poll in Northern Ireland if there is a clear consensus in favour. He says in Scotland there is not majority support for another referendum. Until that changes, there won’t be one, he says.
Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru leader at Westminster, asks about a community-owned pub in her constituency.
Burnham says the government does need to “go further to support hospitality”. He says Saville Roberts should wait for the budget.
Kim Johnson (Lab) asks if the government will get BT Openreach to pull out of a decision to use Liverpool as a hub.
Burnham says Steve Rotheram, the Liverpool city region mayor, is discussing this, with No 10 North.
Alberto Costa (Con) asks Burnham if he will back Leicestershire villages that do not want to be part of Leicester under local government reorganisation.
Burnham says he will agree to a meeting on this.
I do believe when it comes to political reform, it will always benefit from the highest degree of consensus.
Lauren Sullivan (Lab) asks if Burnham will work to bring back the Tilbury ferry for her Gravesham constituency.
Burnham says he will try to help with this.
Siobhain McDonagh (Lab) asks the government to ban the import of sub-standard e-bikes and conversion kits because of the fire risk they pose.
Burnham says, as a former mayor responsible for fire services, he knows the risk. There will be a “robust response” on this issue, he says.
Burnham says government planning ‘further measures’ to help people with cost of living
Dave Doogan, the SNP leader at Westminster, says energy bills are going up, some morgages are going up, and petrol prices are rising too. But Burnham remains “fairly well liked”, he says. And he says he personally likes Burnham.
But what will Burnham do to help?
Burnham says he is taking VAT off fuel bills. And he says Doogan should look out for “further measures”.
And he thanks Doogan for his “fake praise”, saying it will “get him everywhere”.
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, commends Burnham for the Israel sanctions policy announced yesterday. And he asks about conditions at the Musgrove Park maternity unit.
Burnham thanks Davey for his support on Israel policy.
On health, he says he will soon reply to Davey about the North Devon maternity issue raised at PMQs last week.
He says the health secretary will next week chair a meeting of the maternity taskforce. It will look at issues including Musgrove Park.
Davey says Britain should be the safest place in the world to have a baby, and he says he will keep raising these issues until service improve.
He asks about a Financial Times story saying “Anthropic declined to submit its latest model to Britain’s AI Security Institute for testing” under pressure from the Trump administration. Is that right?
Burnham says AI could pose a threat to security. But it could have many benefits too, he says. He goes on:
We have lifted the level of the conversation about artificial intelligence within government, and the offer is open to colleagues on all sides of the House who want to be a part of that crucial discussion.
Burnham says Israel sanctions are example of Britain ‘showing leadership’
Badenoch says Burnham talks about the last government. But the last government was Keir Starmer’s, and it fails.
She accuses Burnham of being “continuity Keir”.
Burnham replies:
She mentions leadership. Let me tell her and the whole house where Britain is showing leadership.
There have been Conservative politicians at this despatch box, Labour politicians too, for decades, who’ve talked about the importance of the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
Words from any politician about a two-state solution will be only words if it’s not backed with action. And leadership is about taking action.
Where there is injustice, where we need to correct unfairness, people being driven out of their homes, losing their homes, being intimidated in their daily lives, I credit the father of the house [Edward Leigh] who yesterday applauded the action that this government is taking in this difficult and dangerous world.
Britain has to stand for something. Britain has to show leadership. Britain has to stand for fairness against injustice.
Where people are being bullied out of their homes, intimidated, we will always stand with the underdog and take what action we can to support them. That is leadership on the world stage, Britain being true to what it’s always been about.
That is what the British people expect of us, and that is what this government will do.
Burnham urges Tories to work with goverment on fully-funded plan to raise defence spending
Badenoch claims the government will spend £35bn giving away British territory.
Defence funding fell in real terms last year, she says.
She asks why the government is sending money to Mauritius.
Burnham says Badenoch is not on strong ground on defence.
Under the last Tory government, spending on defence fell as a proportion of GDP.
He says it would be better to work across the house to get a “fully and securely funded path” to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 backed by all sides.
Badenoch turns to the Chagos Islands, and accuses Labour of surrender.
Burnham says Badenoch must do better. He says the UK will not surrender the base at Diego Garcia.
Burnham says Tory plan to cut welfare will increase homelessness and rough sleeping
Badenoch says Burnham’s answer is “unbelievable”. She says he should cut welfare to fund defence.
And she asks if he will approve the Rosebank oil field project.
Burnham goes back to attacking the Tory plans to raise another £10bn for defence.
If you take £4bn out in the next few years, you will make families homeless, you will increase rough sleeping on our streets.
On oil and gas, he says he will be “pragmatic”.
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