Andy Burnham claims Rishi Sunak hasn't spoken to him since becoming Prime Minister

Andy Burnham claims Rishi Sunak has not spoken to him since becoming Prime Minister. The Labour mayor, who has met with other government ministers since Mr Sunak entered No 10 Downing Street in October 2022, says they have still 'never had a conversation'.

The Greater Manchester mayor told Dutch news outlet NRC that he regularly met with Theresa May and Boris Johnson when they were in post. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, he saidMr Sunak's lack of contact doesn't 'reflect well' on the Conservatives.

It comes after the man who the Conservatives picked to stand against Mr Burnham in May defected to Reform UK, saying that the Tories have 'given up on Greater Manchester and the North'. Dan Barker quit the party claiming that he did not get enough support.

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The Conservative Party has said it has to be 'realistic' about its prospects in heavily Labour voting areas. The M.E.N. asked Mr Burnham whether he agrees with Mr Barker's assessment of his former party's attitude towards Greater Manchester and the North of England.

He said: "I've never had a conversation with the Prime Minister since he became Prime Minister and I don't think that reflects well on his party's commitment to Greater Manchester given everything we've got going on here."

Mr Burnham wrote to the Prime Minister in September amid speculation that the Northern leg of HS2 would be cancelled. He asked for a meeting with Mr Sunak who was in Manchester for the Conservative Party conference before he made a final decision on HS2.

The Greater Manchester mayor met with levelling up secretary Michael Gove the night before the Prime Minister announced the