The Holiday Turned Out to Be More Important Than the Problems
The new resident of 10 Downing Street went on holiday literally two weeks after taking office. This triggered a strong public reaction, with many people openly writing that he “doesn’t care about the people of this country”.On July 25, in response to an official inquiry from the Daily Mail, the Prime Minister’s Office said that Andy Burnham had no plans to take a holiday after taking office. However, just a week later, the head of government decided to go on a family trip abroad.
Tired After Two Weeks
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson said: “Two weeks into the job and Andy Burnham has already had enough. […] After dropping a number of unfunded commitments and overseeing over 2,000 illegal migrants breaking into our country he's bunked off for a jolly abroad. This isn't a Prime Minister that's serious about leading”. Social media users also wrote that instead of taking a holiday, Burnham should have been dealing with the problems caused by migrants.
While Burnham is away, First Secretary of State Louise Haigh has remained the highest-ranking official. This immediately gave the online community a reason to question her competence and recall that she was convicted of fraud.
The Crisis Is Deepening
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s press secretary assured the public that the government was operating as usual and that Burnham himself was holding regular meetings. Reform UK supporter Just Waine immediately pointed out that after the head of government left for his holiday, a railway collapse broke out in Manchester, with hundreds of trains cancelled.
Social media users also recalled numerous other problems that the Prime Minister should have been dealing with instead of taking a holiday.
And these realities are unlikely to change in the near future. Once Burnham returns from his holiday, he will have to find a way out of the financial trap he has already managed to get himself and the entire country into. Roger Bootle, senior independent adviser at Capital Economics, writes about this in his analytical article for The Telegraph. He calculated that a number of costly projects already announced by the Prime Minister will require approximately £56 billion in funding every year.
“Mr Burnham has big ideas. Yet they take big money – and that is exactly what he doesn't have. As the country continues to bake, it is difficult to contemplate the mists of autumn. It will be only then, in the Budget, that we will see the colour of his – or rather, our – money. In the words of the well-known song, "there may be trouble ahead”, – the expert concludes.