Today, 27 October 2026, marks Andy Burnham’s 100th day in office as Prime Minister.

For the ExcludedUK community, however, there has been little to celebrate. Despite his previous support for those excluded from the Government’s Covid-19 financial support schemes, Andy has so far been conspicuously silent.

Attempts to engage with him have been met with silence, including approaches from the ExcludedUK community and the Secretariat of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).

Perhaps most disconcerting was hearing about Tim Pravda @ExludedFighter’s, recent experience. ExcludedUK’s lead campaigner, who travelled from the south coast of England specifically to attend the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, hoping to engage with Andy, they are very well acquainted at this stage! That opportunity to catchup and discuss the continuing plight of the Excluded came to nothing, Andy didn’t join Tim for a coffee, a beer or even a quick chat in the foyer!

For our community having spent more than six years campaigning for an apology, an assurance and financial parity, being effectively ghosted by Andy Burnham who previously expressed strong support raises a serious question.

What’s occurring Prime Minister, where is our supporter Andy Burnham and what is he doing to help us?

Is this a matter of political priorities, or is there a wider instruction within the Labour Party discouraging MPs and ministers from engaging with ExcludedUK?

We do not know. And that is precisely why we are asking.

Today, we have submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Cabinet Office, covering the period from July 2024 to the present, seeking records of any communications, guidance or instructions concerning engagement – or non-engagement – with ExcludedUK, Excluded Scotland and representatives of those excluded from pandemic financial support.

We are not alleging that such an instruction exists. We are seeking to establish whether it does.

The community has already endured years of unanswered questions. It should not have to endure another Government refusing even to engage in the conversation.

As follows.

Dear Cabinet Office,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I request the following recorded information held by your department.

For the period 4th July 2024 to date – 27th October 2026, please provide:

1. Copies of any correspondence, briefing notes, emails, meeting records, internal guidance or other recorded communications concerning whether ministers, parliamentary colleagues or government officials should engage with ExcludedUK, Excluded Scotland or representatives of individuals excluded from UK Government Covid-19 financial support schemes.

2. Any recorded communications advising, recommending, discouraging or instructing ministers or government officials not to meet, correspond with or otherwise engage with these organisations or their representatives.

3. Any recorded communications between the department and the Government Chief Whip’s office, parliamentary whips or Labour Party representatives concerning engagement or non-engagement with these organisations, insofar as such information is held by the department for its own purposes.

4. Any recorded explanation or rationale for decisions to decline meetings, correspondence or other engagement with these organisations.

Please include relevant records held in official email systems and other communications channels where information is held for departmental purposes.

If any information is withheld, please identify the statutory exemption relied upon and explain its application, including the public interest test where applicable.

If no relevant information is held, please confirm this.

If the request exceeds the applicable cost limit, please provide advice and assistance under Section 16 to help narrow its scope.

With thanks,