Government to operate as normal while Burnham on holiday, No 10 says
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing criticism from opposition figures for taking a holiday shortly after assuming office. Downing Street maintains that the government is functioning normally and that the Prime Minister remains in constant contact with his team.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the political tension surrounding the transition of power and the scrutiny placed on new leadership's work ethic and priorities.
Image source, Reuters By James Gregory Political reporter Published 4 August 2026 Andy Burnham's government will continue to function normally while the new prime minister is away on holiday, Downing Street has said.
Burnham is taking a break from his day-to-day duties to spend time with his family, after entering No 10 two weeks ago.
His official spokesman has said he will remain in direct contact with officials and continue to hold meetings while away from Downing Street.
But Reform UK's chairman Lee Anderson has criticised Burnham for going on holiday so soon after taking office, saying: "This isn't a prime minister that's serious about leading."
He accused the new prime minister of having "bunked off" after "dropping a number of unfunded commitments and overseeing over 2,000 illegal migrants breaking into our country", in reference to a raft of policy announcements made in Burnham's first two weeks.
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