Burnham not doing enough to boost growth, says former business secretary

A cabinet minister under Sir Keir Starmer has said Andy Burnham's government is not focused enough on boosting economic growth and needs to act with "more urgency".

Speaking to the BBC two months after being sacked in Burnham's cabinet reshuffle upon entering office, Peter Kyle said he wasn't making a "criticism" but "pointing to the potential that we have as a country and as a government".

"If the destination means prosperity, it means freedom for people to do new things, and it means security for people and families, then why wouldn't we put our foot down and get there quicker," the former business secretary said.

It comes as Labour prepares to gather in Liverpool for its annual conference.

Burnham will address the conference on Tuesday and has said his speech would leave nobody in any doubt about "what I'm trying to do in this role."

He has previously said his time as Greater Manchester mayor had given him "a clear theory of growth" stressing his belief in the importance of devolving powers to local areas.

Giving regions and nations more control would, he has argued, create the conditions for "good growth in every postcode".

Kyle served as science secretary and later business secretary in the Starmer government, but has now returned to the backbenches as the MP for Hove and Portslade.