The Newshound

Burnham faces pressure on multiple fronts as Badenoch turns up heat at PMQs

Kemi Badenoch and Andy Burnham, as MI5 director general Sir Ken McCallum's warning against overstating Russian influence was wielded against Burnham over his claim that Vladimir Putin interfered in the 2016 Brexit…
Kemi Badenoch and Andy Burnham, as MI5 director general Sir Ken McCallum's warning against overstating Russian influence was wielded against Burnham over his claim that Vladimir Putin interfered in the 2016 Brexit…
Vladimir Putin, whom Andy Burnham called an interferer in the 2016 Brexit vote — a claim MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum publicly cautioned against overstating, forcing the PM into a partial climbdown.
Vladimir Putin, whom Andy Burnham called an interferer in the 2016 Brexit vote — a claim MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum publicly cautioned against overstating, forcing the PM into a partial climbdown.

Andy Burnham sparked a constitutional row at PMQs by publicly declaring a named individual "responsible for the murder" of Ann Widdecombe, despite Joshua Kerry, 28, not yet having faced trial. Shadow Commons leader Jesse Norman immediately raised a point of order, warning the Prime Minister had breached the presumption of innocence — a principle stretching back to Magna Carta — and demanded he withdraw the statement and correct the record. Burnham's comments came as he sparred with Kemi Badenoch over a session already dominated by his Russia-Brexit gaffe and unanswered questions about his links to Manchester City.

Jesse Norman warned that in any other forum Burnham's words 'would be a contempt of court', prejudging a man awaiting trial.

Badenoch also pressed Burnham on whether he 'ever got tired of putting his foot in his mouth' over his Russia-Brexit podcast intervention, which MI5 chief Ken McCallum appeared to rebuke.

MoreEvening StandardAndy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch trade blows over defence at PMQsThe TelegraphKemi Badenoch’s Tories shouldn’t be celebrating just yetThe TimesDoes Andy Burnham tire of putting his foot in his mouth? Don’t ask himThe IndependentBurnham told to apologise over Ann Widdecombe murder case comments during PMQsDaily MailVoters might look at Kemi and think 'she's more clued-up than Andy'The ScotsmanKemi Badenoch passes up big chance to make Andy Burnham squirm at PMQs
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