Andy Burnham has gone away on holiday two weeks after entering Downing Street.
The family break comes the day after the prime minister announced changes to the prison early release scheme, which have been met with controversy, particularly from victims and families of crimes like manslaughter and domestic abuse.
Officials would not be drawn on where Burnham, who is married with three children, is holidaying. However, it is understood to be abroad rather than in the UK.
While the PM is away, he will remain in contact with officials and has insisted the government will continue to function as normal.
But given he has not appointed a deputy prime minister, who is technically in charge during his absence?
No Deputy PM?
Burnham bucked the traditional Labour trend of appointing a deputy prime minister when he selected his cabinet in July, instead giving Louise Haigh the title of First Secretary of State.
The former transport secretary was instrumental in Burnham’s campaign to become Labour leader and subsequently PM.
Dubbed one of his team’s “band of strong Northern power women”, Haigh’s role serves a similar political function to a deputy prime minister, with her title making her the most senior secretary of state in the cabinet.
George Osborne previously held the role under David Cameron; Damien Green under Theresa May; and Peter Mandelson under Gordon Brown.
In the UK, there is no constitutional requirement for a deputy or caretaker prime minister, meaning that it is not essential for a prime minister to appoint one.
Instead, titles such as Deputy Prime Minister, First Secretary of State or Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster can be given to a member of the cabinet who may fulfil the role as the premier’s number two in some capacity.
Deputy PMs do not have any automatic rights or responsibilities but cover for the leader at PMQs or elsewhere, as David Lammy or Angela Rayner did for Sir Keir Starmer during his premiership.
Dominic Raab was deputy PM under Boris Johnson and effectively deputised for the then-prime minister when he was in hospital with Covid.
Is it too soon?
Reform UK has taken to social media to criticise the PM’s decision to take a break, claiming “he’s bunked off” from leading the country.
Deputy leader Richard Tice said: “Open borders part time Burnham. Britain is broken. Britain is being invaded. Yet Burnham disappears.”
His colleague and party chairman Lee Anderson said: “Two weeks into the job and Andy Burnham has already had enough.
“After dropping a number of unfunded commitments and overseeing over 2,000 illegal migrants breaking into our country, he’s bunked off for a jolly abroad.”
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However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch took a different approach.
“I’m not going to criticise a politician for taking a holiday,” she said. “I’m not going to criticise Andy Burnham for that.
“It’s children’s school holidays, my children are on a holiday, I hope that everybody should be taking a break.”
Badenoch was more concerned about Burnham not having to face parliament for the first time as prime minister until MPs return in September.
Prime ministers have often taken breaks during the summer recess, when they are not required in parliament, but can be called back at a moment’s notice.
Former PM Theresa May was known to take walking holidays, and Tony Blair was photographed on holiday in Italy with his family just a few months into his tenure.
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