Prime Minister Asked to Correct Commons Record Over Widdecombe Murder Remarks

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has written to the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, demanding a correction to the House of Commons record following a controversial exchange. The dispute centres on comments made by Mr Sunak regarding former minister Ann Widdecombe, which critics interpreted as implying her murder.

During a session, Mr Sunak stated, "It was brought to my attention that in the past Ann Widdecombe said that she would rather be dead than be looked after in a care home under Labour. I hope she's doing okay." This statement followed questioning about NHS waiting lists.

Mr Burnham, whose mother-in-law resides in a care home, described the Prime Minister's remarks as "deeply offensive" and highlighted the distress they caused to those with relatives in care settings. His letter to the Prime Minister's office asserts that the comment was not a misstep but a deliberate political attack that misrepresented Ms Widdecombe's original statement from 2004.

Ms Widdecombe had actually said she would rather be dead than "languish for years in some state long-term care institution," a context significantly different from the Prime Minister's portrayal. Mr Burnham's intervention underscores the perceived disregard for parliamentary accuracy and sensitivity towards vulnerable individuals and their families.