Arabic version: بيرنهام يواجه تكاليف الاقتراض في أول جلسة أسئلة لرئيس الوزراء

According to BBC News, Andy Burnham said his government would be “grounded in fiscal responsibility” during his first Prime Minister’s Questions, as UK borrowing costs reached new long-term highs.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pressed the prime minister to explain where spending would be cut and how he would address rising debt costs. The yield on a 10-year government bond was at its highest level since 2008, while the 30-year yield was at its highest since 1998, increasing the cost of long-term borrowing before the 28 October Budget.

Burnham said his administration would stick to fiscal rules while seeking to reduce cost-of-living pressures. He blamed the previous Conservative government for the UK’s exposure to market turbulence and said ministers were taking steps to reduce debt. He also said his first moves had included cutting VAT on energy bills and reducing business rates for hospitality.

Badenoch argued that Burnham had announced spending plans without setting out how they would be funded, saying his choices were higher taxes, more borrowing or spending cuts. Burnham said he would not write the Budget at PMQs and that he and Chancellor John Healey had agreed an earlier Budget date to reduce speculation.

The pair also clashed over defence spending. Badenoch urged Burnham to commit to 3% spending, while Burnham said the government would fully fund its defence investment plan and set out a route to meet Nato commitments by 2035 at the spending review.