Exclusive: Andy Burnham Accused Of 'Undermining The Government' By Backing Social Media Ban

Andy Burnham has been accused of “undermining the government” after he gave his backing to calls by Kemi Badenoch for a ban on social media for under-16s.

The Tory leader said the UK should follow the example of Australia by outlawing the use of apps like X and Instagram by young people.

Keir Starmer has so far ruled out following the Australian government’s example by introducing a similar ban in Britain.

Badenoch told the BBC: “What we are seeing is a lot of children spending so many hours a day on platforms that are profiting from their anxiety, from their distraction, and they are actually designed to be addictive.

“So what we want to see is common sense, protection for children and freedom for adults. We want to give parents some understanding that the government understands what they’re going through. So we want to bring in age limits.”

Reacting on X, Burnham said: “I find myself agreeing with a lot of what Kemi Badenoch is saying about children and social media. It seems to me parents would welcome a cross-party consensus around much bolder action.”

But a Labour MP hit out at the Manchester mayor, telling HuffPost UK: “He’s deliberately undermining the government and saying nothing of substance.”

Burnham’s intervention came in the wake of fresh speculation that he is planning to become an MP again as a prelude to mounting a leadership challenge to the prime minister.

The Sun on Sunday reported that he has reached an agreement with Andrew Gwynne, the former Labour minister currently suspended by the party, to stand in his seat if he quits parliament.

But another Labour MP said: “I’m not sure any of us could win a by-election right now – not even the so-called ‘King of the North’.”