Keir Starmer has been accused of leaving Andy Burnham with a £4.7bn black hole in defence funding. The government announced on Tuesday a defence investment plan including a £15bn boost, but nearly £5bn would have to be found by a future chancellor. Allies of Burnham have called the announcement an ‘unexploded bomb’, raising questions about the options available to the PM-in-waiting.
Political Fallout
Kiran Stacey and Jessica Elgot discuss the political fallout from the defence funding row. The announcement has sparked debate over Labour's economic strategy and the implications for Burnham's potential leadership. According to sources close to Burnham, the funding gap could force difficult choices on public spending priorities.
Questions on Labour and No 10 North
In addition to the defence row, Kiran and Jess answer listener questions on Labour, No 10 North, and Burnham. The podcast invites listeners to send comments and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Listeners can also follow and subscribe to the Politics Weekly YouTube channel for more content.
Further Reading
Kiran’s article on the defence row and Keir Starmer’s response are available online. Jessica’s article covers MPs’ reactions to the defence row and the 12-month project to return Andy Burnham to Westminster. Richard Partington’s article examines polling data showing how a more radical economic agenda could benefit Labour. Additionally, listeners can revisit Politics Weekly’s Brexit: An Oral History.
