PM pledges cancer inquiry and police boost

The prime minister has said the so far hundreds of victims of breast cancer care failings at County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust will get "all of the answers they need".

Speaking to BBC Politics North, Andy Burnham said he would ensure the "fullest possible inquiry", but would not guarantee what form it would take. His pledge comes after the trust agreed to review up to a further 4,500 cases including delayed diagnoses and unnecessary surgeries.

Burnham also promised to visit Teesside and address the "unfair shortage" of Cleveland Police officers.

Meanwhile, he said he wanted to address transport issues across north-east England, including the long-running row over dualling the A1.

The prime minister said he could "only imagine" the distress caused to women who suffered harm at the Durham and Darlington trust, where a review into what one patient called "absolutely unforgivable" treatment is now looking back as far as 2015.

It was recently revealed concerns were first raised at least 11 years ago, but the trust had so far only reviewed 538 cases dating back to 2023, with 321 having experienced some form of harm including one death.

"Of course there needs to be the fullest possible inquiry into how this happened and I will ensure that that is what takes place," Burnham said.

"What I can't say to you today is to guarantee the precise form of that inquiry, but I can assure you... we will ensure that those affected have all of the answers that they need and, if necessary, people are held to account."

Pressed on if there should be a public inquiry, he pointed to the Hillsborough Independent Panel and said "sometimes a disclosure process of that kind gets to the truth more quickly".

"There is not one route to the truth and there are different ways that can actually get you there more quickly."

Burnham was also questioned about the Cleveland Police chief constable's call for more resources and a fairer funding formula following the death of seven people, including two police officers, in a crash last month near Middlesbrough.

Since then, long-standing local concerns about organised crime and the specific issues faced by the Cleveland force have gone on to receive national attention.

The prime minister said he needed "a little time" to work out police funding issues but that it was "quite clear" to him that there was an "unfair shortage of police officers in the area".

Elsewhere, he said he recognised "the North East can often feel neglected", especially with "issues around transport infrastructure, the A1".

He added: "I care about the North East. I do think it's been short-changed over the years."

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