Μake us preferred on Google U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Wednesday that his government’s 10-year plan will be published before Parliament breaks for Christmas on Dec. 17.
He made the commitment at prime minister’s questions, when Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch quizzed him on the strategy. Badenoch opened by ridiculing the plan, and asked whether it was being drawn up in part by external consultants. Burnham did not answer directly. Instead, he told MPs he was determined to give the country the stability and leadership he said the Conservatives had failed to provide, and that ministers would present the plan to the House before the Christmas recess.
The pledge settles weeks of uncertainty over when the long-awaited document, seen as central to the government’s agenda, would appear. Last week Burnham told The Economist there was no fixed date for its release and that it might slip into the new year.
According to The Sunday Times, the plan will be organized into three parts, “growing up,” “getting on” and “growing old,” covering the government’s role at each stage of people’s lives.
Burnham said the plan would set a new direction for Britain and break with what he called the failed policies of the opposition. It will include a “proposal for a national care service,” he said, and cross-party talks on adult social care will take place before the end of the year.
Badenoch also pressed him on other open questions. Burnham refused to say when the next spending review would take place or when a decision would be made on the Rosebank oil field, and instead accused the Conservatives of not caring about the cost of living.
