Tory bid to force Burnham to face MPs before recess fails after government scraps debate

The Conservatives accused Labour of avoiding scrutiny after the government cancelled an opposition debate that would have sought to keep Parliament sitting next week to question incoming PM Andy Burnham.

• Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Labour was "running scared" and called the cancellation of the debate an "unprecedented move."
• Commons leader Sir Alan Campbell said the debate was replaced to allow discussion of the escalating situation in the Middle East before the recess.
• Shadow Commons leader Jesse Norman said the government "could not bear the idea of a new prime minister facing any scrutiny before September."
• Parliament begins its summer recess on Thursday and returns 1 September; Burnham is expected to become prime minister on Monday.