Prime Minister Andy Burnham blamed the Conservative Party's economic legacy for leaving Britain exposed to market turbulence, during his first prime ministers' questions with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. UK borrowing costs climbed further as the two clashed over responsibility for the nation's economic position. Badenoch compared the market pressure facing Burnham to the turmoil that followed Liz Truss's mini-budget in September 2022.
Burnham rejected the comparison, arguing that the Conservative Party's failure to grow the economy and manage debt had left the UK vulnerable to market shocks. He said the pressure on borrowing costs reflected the structural weaknesses inherited from his predecessors' time in government. The exchange took place on his second day as prime minister.
