Burnham's Brexit Rhetoric and TikTok Stunts Won't Solve Britain's Prob

Burnham's Brexit Rhetoric and TikTok Stunts Won't Solve Britain's Problems

Prime Minister Andy Burnham faced his first live TV interview, defended his Brexit stance and freedom of movement, while the Budget may freeze fuel duty.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 27, 2026 · 5:08 AM 2 min read

Key takeaways

Andy Burnham gave his first live TV interview since becoming Prime Minister.

He claimed Brexit caused the small-boat crisis, saying, "We can't return people."

Only 1,972 asylum seekers were returned while 5,176 were accepted from EU states.

Chancellor John Healey is expected to freeze fuel duty and maintain a 5p cut.

NHS consultants earn an average of £150,000 and are demanding a £16,000 raise.

Be serious, PM

Andy Burnham yesterday stepped away from posting toe-curling TikTok videos to give his first live television interview since taking office at No10.

His behaviour on Brexit, according to critics, adds more proof that the Prime Minister is not trustworthy.

In another display of inconsistency, he blamed the small-boat crisis on leaving the EU, saying, "We can't return people."

Such statements are seen as high-level nonsense. Even while the UK was in the bloc, the system for sending asylum seekers back to the EU proved ineffective.

Of the tens of thousands who entered the UK illegally in the five years up to 2020, the Home Office returned only 1,972, while the country accepted 5,176 from EU states - three times more. Critics ask how that can be described as a good deal.

At the same time, Burnham appears tangled over his wish to re-adopt the EU's freedom of movement.

If he truly thinks the public will accept unrestricted migration from Europe, he is said to misread the 2016 vote.

Opponents warn it would be disastrous for job-less Britons, wages, housing, public services and social cohesion.

Within hours of his GMB sofa appearance, Downing Street reportedly insisted the Prime Minister only ever wanted an "evidence-based debate" on freedom of movement and had no firm stance either way. Really?

Critics argue Burnham should focus on tackling the deep-rooted challenges facing the nation instead of more ill-thought witterings and banal social media videos that have marked his first 100 days.

Not give us more of the ill-thought-out witterings and banal social media videos that have marked his first 100 days.

Doing his duty?

IT sounds like there may be some welcome relief for our hard-pressed readers in tomorrow's Budget.

All indications suggest John Healey WILL freeze fuel duty and keep the 5p cut, sparing workers, firms and families further pain at the pumps.

The Chancellor has reportedly listened to the Keep It Down campaign.

Some will argue he should have gone further, noting that driver misery at forecourts has generated billions of pounds of extra revenue for the Treasury.

Let's see if there is anything else worth cheering in the Budget.

Sickening

HOW do the hardliners at the British Medical Association sleep at night?

NHS consultant salaries average £150,000, yet the union's hard-left faction still deems that insufficient.

They are demanding an immediate £16,000 pay rise and a 35-hour working week, planning a two-day strike next month to pressure a government they view as weak.

Consultant doctors are meant to save lives, not put more in danger.