New PM Andy Burnham's detailed answers at PMQs average 51 seconds each, far longer than recent predecessors, drawing repeated calls for brevity from the Speaker.
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01Summary
- 01Andy Burnham has been PM for three months; Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has repeatedly asked him to speed up answers.
- 02Burnham averages 22 minutes speaking per PMQs session, 3–6 minutes more than recent PMs like Starmer, Sunak, Truss and Johnson.
- 03Burnham's average answer length is 51 seconds; Truss was fastest at 33 seconds, Johnson 35, Starmer 38, Sunak 39.
- 04Number 10 says the longer answers are because Burnham actually answers the questions.
- 05PMQs sessions routinely overrun by 10–20 minutes despite a scheduled 30-minute slot.
02Why it matters
This matters because longer PMQs reduce the number of backbench MPs able to ask questions, limiting parliamentary scrutiny and frustrating colleagues.
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