Burnham vs Badenoch: Commons showdown

Burnham vs Badenoch: Commons showdown

Author: Financial Times September 4, 2026 Duration: 34:28

There’s big "new term" energy this week in parliament with MPs returning from summer recess for Andy Burnham’s first Prime Minister's Questions. After Burnham answered a mega 125 questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch lambasted the prime minister for being a “people pleaser” and a “spendthrift”. What did Burnham’s first appearance in the Commons tell us about his leadership style? And can Badenoch’s shadow cabinet reshuffle help the Tory party win back popularity? Plus, why is Green Party leader Zack Polanski standing in Keir Starmer’s old seat? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT's chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and deputy political editor Jim Pickard. 


Follow Lucy @LOS_Fisher ; Robert @robertshrimsley; Jim @PickardJE



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Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


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