Government Swaps Opposition Debate for Middle East Session Before Recess

The government replaced its scheduled opposition debate on Wednesday with a session on the Middle East crisis, The BBC reported. Conservatives had intended to use the slot to force a vote requiring Parliament to sit next week so that Andy Burnham could answer questions about his plans before the six-week recess begins on Thursday.

Commons leader Sir Alan Campbell said he had not seen the text of the Conservative motion and that it had not been tabled.

He added that members would understand the need for the House to address the escalating situation in the Middle East before the recess. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called the change an unprecedented move and posted on X that Labour are running scared because they know the honeymoon will be over the minute he has to tell us his plans.

A Conservative source said the government knew the party planned to table a motion for Parliament to sit next week so Burnham could be scrutinised.

Shadow Commons leader Jesse Norman told MPs on Tuesday that the decision was a total humiliation and embarrassment for the government. He said it is the worst possible start for a new prime minister and that people across this country will conclude that this is a man who is frit, running scared of public scrutiny before he can even take office.

After the recess begins on Thursday, the House of Commons is not due to return until 1 September.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle can recall Parliament if the government requests it and he determines it is in the public interest. Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester who won the Makerfield by-election last month, has been nominated by 349 Labour MPs.