Andy Burnham answers questions from LBC callers - as it happened
Prime Minister tells LBC callers that he will chair a Cobra meeting "later this afternoon"
Andy Burnham told LBC that he will chair a Cobra meeting "later this afternoon" after five arrests by counter-terror police close to RAF Fairford.
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During his live phone-in from Liverpool, the Prime Minister said he will chair the Cobra meeting today over RAF Fairford.
Speaking from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, he added that NHS-style social care will be for adults and not children and that he will try to get a separate deal with the Americans if they bring in a ban on diesel exports.
On the issue of the Piddington asylum centre, he said: "I realise it's difficult (for residents), I am looking at issues, don't want to give the impression it can be cancelled. Not in that position"
He also called the failure to get a grip on social care a colossal failure of politics.
Mr Burnham's phone in followed Labour conference speeches from Ed Miliband and John Healey this morning.
He is expected to address events at RAF Fairford after five men were arrested over a suspected bomb plot.
The Prime Minister spoke to Shelagh Fogarty on LBC from 3pm.
Here is the run-down of what happened.
Andy Burnham revealed on LBC:
- PM will chair Cobra meeting today over RAF Fairford
- NHS-style social care will be for adults and not children
- He will try to get a separate deal with the Americans if they bring in a ban on diesel exports
- Piddington: "I realise its difficult (for residents), I am looking at issues, don't want to give impression it can be cancelled. Not in that position"
- Failure to grip social care is a colossal failure of politics.
Top stories:
- Back to Brussels? Ed Miliband says Britain’s future ‘lies in a stronger, deeper partnership’ with the EU,
- 'We will be transparent' Wes Streeting vows to be honest on RAF 'bomb plot' but admits public only has 'partial picture'
- Healey pledges 'new age of industrialisation' as Labour backs British shipbuilding
That's all for today
We are bringing our live coverage to an end. Thanks for tuning in and for all the questions submitted to Andy Burnham.
Every word said by Andy Burnham from LBC callers
Here is a full run down of everything the Prime Minister said on Shelagh Fogarty's show this afternoon: Full story here.
Andy Burnham with Shelagh FogartyBurnham slams 'threadbare' social care system: 'You cannot deliver a care system of quality in fifteen-minute slots'
Lucy in Liverpool asked the PM: “With the NHS under sustained pressure, how will you ensure funding and commissioning, enable quality and continuity at home, while making care a properly valued and sustainable career?
Mr Burnham said the place to start was in the home, creating the best quality care that we can.
The PM became emotional whilst reflecting on the recent loss of his dad, but called the care he received “brilliant”
“It wasn’t the people – I wouldn’t for one minute say it’s the people,” he added. “They were brilliant, and they came from all over the world – it’s important to say as well.
“The care was brilliant, and it’s the system that’s letting them down.”
“You cannot deliver a care system of quality in fifteen-minute slots,” he said.
He warned that if social care “is allowed to collapse”, it will “drag the NHS down with it.”
The Prime Minister answered questions from listeners while speaking to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty at the Labour Party conference.
Burnham describes jobseeking struggles of graduates as a 'pretty poor situation'
Lotty in Manchester said: “I graduated last year and I had to apply to over 100 jobs and move cities to get a grad role.
“Putting more funding towards apprenticeships isn’t going to help us. What are you going to do about my generation of overqualified grads in the jobs market of decreasing grad roles?”
The PM thanked Lotty for her question, and reflected: “it was a bit like that for us”.
He said his first job out of university was an “unpaid reporter on the Middleton Guardian”.
He said he had to move South “to get on”.
He acknowledged “the unfairness” facing grads like Lotty and described the financial difficulty as a “pretty poor situation”.
Mr Burnham emphasised the importance of schemes like Help to Buy, assisting those looking to purchase their first homes.
He acknowledged this was just “one thing” and added: “There’s much more we need to do to support graduate employment”
The Prime Minister answered questions from listeners while speaking to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty at the Labour Party conference.
Burnham says asylum concerns of Piddington are 'legitimate' but not in a position to 'simply cancel' the current situation
Steve in Upper Arncott asked the PM: “I live next to Piddington, and my village is 2 minutes away from the main camp where these asylum seekers will be held. I am an army veteran, and we don’t feel safe or comfortable with these asylum seekers coming here and walking around unsupervised. Why are you not listening to the people of Piddington? Why should we have asylum seekers moved into our community?”
Mr Burnham said the current process reflected the demand of Brits for asylum seekers to be moved out of hotels.
“You said: ' Why won’t I listen? ' – I do listen, and I have been asking questions of the Home Office of this precise location,” adding that Steve had “legitimate concerns”
He said he was going through the process “In a way that is fair to everywhere.”
“Overall, there is better news in that the number of crossings is down 50%, the number of returns of people who have no right to be here is up,” he went on.
“We are relentless in looking where we can go further”
But he said he was not in a position to “simply cancel” the process at the moment.
The Prime Minister answered questions from listeners while speaking to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty at the Labour Party conference.
PM to reveal details of social care reform and defence bill
Andy Burnham suggested he would reveal details of how the Government will pay for social care and defence on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister told LBC: “We have a commitment to 2035 and what I’ll set out tomorrow is how we do that, how we change things so that we can make the necessary investment in defence.”
Asked whether his plans for social care reform would be funded by a new tax or spending cuts elsewhere, he said: “I will reveal detail tomorrow.”
Full story: Andy Burnham to chair emergency Cobra meeting
Andy Burnham has exclusively revealed to LBC that he will chair a Cobra meeting "later this afternoon".
He told Shelagh Fogarty that defence remains high on his priority list ahead of his speech at the conference on Tuesday.
"Everyone can feel the world changing," the PM admitted, as he vowed to top up defence funding, pledging to "go further" where national defence is concerned," he said.
Heathrow third runway 'not just a matter for London' but no planning underway yet, Burnham says
Charlotte in Blackpool asked the PM: “You’re a straight-talking, decisive guy, PM, but I was left scratching my head yesterday at your answer on Heathrow’s third runway. We need growth in this country - this project could drive that growth. Do you want a third runway to go ahead - yes or no?”
Mr Burnham explained that he was unable to give a straight answer due to the complexity of the planning process but acknowledged the importance of the issue.
“It’s not just a matter for London,” he added.
“There’s no live planning application yet; the live consultation has just closed”, and said there was “some way to go” on the topic, and that he was reticent to prejudice the process.
The Prime Minister answered questions from listeners while speaking to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty at the Labour Party conference.
Heathrow Airport'We're on it' says Burnham of rising fuel prices amid Iran War
Shelagh Fogarty asked the Prime Minister if he intended to help with diesel prices amid the ongoing war with Iran.
Mr Burnham addressed his meeting with Donald Trump and said: “We discussed the Middle East situation in detail,” but said he could not provide further detail.
However, the PM reassured Shelagh and listeners: “We’re on it, we’re working closely with the US on the situation.”
Burnham says 'we've got some work to do' supporting small businesses
The Prime Minister answered questions from listeners while speaking to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty at the Labour Party conference.
Rachel in Oxford said she works with lots of small businesses and, despite Labour's promises not to raise taxes, prices have risen for business owners.
She asked him how he planned to “help small businesses and those struggling, when pressure is coming from all angles?”
The PM acknowledged her concerns, but said: “There is a limit; there is obviously a challenging fiscal position as we head towards the budget."
He went on to say he intends to get business to a position where business owners “head to the future”
“And we know we’ve got some work to do on that front”, he added.
