Why is Burnham getting blamed for a global debt crisis?

**Jon** (0:02)
This is a Global Production.

**Lewis** (0:05)
This was the first proper face-to-face jouse between Badenoch and Burnham. I think what did we learn from it? There was one issue that was hanging over everything, and Badenoch did talk about it, which is what is currently happening in terms of government borrowing costs, UK government borrowing costs nearly at their lowest point now, since the late 1990s.

**Emily Maitlis** (0:25)
So he managed to get away with it this week, I would say, as somebody who can sort of remind the Tories that they were in power for 14 years, remind the Tories about Liz Truss. I'm not sure that he's going to be allowed to answer as little in the weeks to come.

**Jon** (0:40)
There are people at number 10 who are across this rather than just saying, I'm sorry, love, you're on your own, you need to sort this out for yourself. I know you've got, you know, a heavy constituency postbag on this issue, but tough titties, you know, get on with it. I think that…

**Emily Maitlis** (0:51)
I haven't heard that one for a while.

**Jon** (0:53)
No, we haven't.

**Emily Maitlis** (0:54)
It's nice to be back. Don't hear that in rural France very often.

**Kemi Badenoch** (0:58)
Can I congratulate the Prime Minister on his stamina? Three hours yesterday.
Yesterday.

**Jon** (1:09)
That was Kemi Badenoch. Prime Minister's questions.
Congratulating Andy Burnham on the length of his statement.

**Emily Maitlis** (1:19)
Yeah, after a three and a half hour stint in the Commons yesterday, Burnham was back for his first PMQs of the term. Who won?
Welcome to The News Agents.

**Andy Burnham** (1:36)
The News Agents.

**Jon** (1:38)
It's Jon.

**Emily Maitlis** (1:38)
It's Maitlis.

**Lewis** (1:39)
It's Lewis. And this was much awaited, because obviously we've had this weird situation where Andy Burnham has basically been Prime Minister for the summer holidays. And so this was Westminster truly back. Admittedly, as Kemi Badenoch was saying there or hinting at there, it was, we got a bit of a preview of it yesterday, because Andy Burnham did do a three-hour session on the floor of the Commons, where he took questions from over 100 MPs. Nonetheless, this was the first proper face-to-face joust between Badenoch and Burnham. And I think, what did we learn from it? Well, I think we can say a few things. One is, is that as always happens with an incoming Prime Minister or incoming leader of the opposition, they promised to end punch-and-duty politics, they promised to end point scoring, and it lasts for precisely less than the duration of one Prime Minister's questions. In my view, rightly so, because we haven't had the serial system for a reason. Nonetheless, they did, I think, in a pretty fluent way at MISLY on both sides go for each other. I think this promises to be one of the more interesting contest between a Prime Minister and the opposition we've had for some years. I think both Badenoch and Burnham, proper battle of ideas, both fluent performers. But there was one issue that was hanging over everything, and Badenoch did talk about it, which is what is currently happening in terms of government borrowing costs, UK government borrowing costs, inch higher today, nearly at their lowest point now, since the late 1990s, after they've been caught up in what is admittedly a global move which is pushing government borrowing costs higher for most Western governments. This was followed by Badenoch asking the Prime Minister what he was going to do to cut government spending to convince the markets that the UK is credible. Here's their exchange.

**Kemi Badenoch** (3:20)
Personally, I think it's delightful that he wants to make everyone happy, but a prime minister needs to be a leader, not a people pleaser.
He's talking about working together on welfare. I already made that offer, but that does mean cuts. He wants to bring the welfare bill down by spending more money. Yesterday, the prime minister told the House that his summer of promises would be paid for by re-prioritising within government. So what exactly has he cut?

**Andy Burnham** (3:50)
Well, in terms of what has he cut, tax is the simple answer to that question.
Mr Speaker, within days of taking office, I indicated that we would remove VAT off of electricity bills. And that, Mr Speaker, will help people with the cost of living. And then, days later, with the support of my right, honourable friend, the Chancellor, we said that there would be a cut in business rates for pubs, social clubs, live music venues. So this government, lowering the cost of living, lowering the cost of business, and that is what we will continue to do.