Prime Minister Andy Burnham faced a lively and at times unconventional session during his first appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons on Wednesday. The Labour leader, who assumed office recently, encountered a mixture of pointed political challenges and unexpected references to sensitive topics.

The session began with a lighthearted exchange when Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch remarked on Burnham’s “stamina,” alluding humorously to his previous day’s lengthy opening statement, which lasted over three hours. Badenoch’s comments drew laughter from the chamber, setting a spirited tone for the proceedings. Burnham responded with a modest smile before pivoting to address questions on various government policies.

Burnham, who had pledged to bring a different style to his leadership by focusing on substantive debate rather than political point scoring, nonetheless engaged in some partisan exchanges. He criticized Badenoch for appointing Andrew Griffith, a former advisor involved in the controversial 2022 budget, as Shadow Chancellor, replacing Sir Mel Stride, who had previously expressed reservations about the same budget. This disagreement marked a notable moment in the session’s political discourse.

During the session, Burnham reiterated his commitment to consultations on key issues, including fossil fuels, wildfire management, and social topics. However, attempts by Badenoch to extract clear positions from the Prime Minister on pressing concerns such as rising government borrowing costs, defence expenditure levels, and the possibility of tax increases in the upcoming Budget went largely unanswered.

The session took an unconventional turn when Labour MP Samantha Niblett addressed the Prime Minister with a request to discuss the societal stigma around openly talking about human anatomy, specifically using terms like “penis” and “vagina.” Niblett, who leads the “Yes Sex Please, We’re British!” campaign, invited Burnham to meet on the matter. The Prime Minister accepted the invitation, noting in a lighthearted comment that her summer was “clearly more exciting” than his own.

Throughout the session, Burnham repeatedly referenced his home city of Manchester, integrating it into various answers, which some observers interpreted as reflecting his regional focus.

The dynamic exchange underscored both the political and cultural dimensions that the new Prime Minister is navigating in his early days of leadership.