Conservative Shadow Home Office minister Matt Vickers has denied that the party does not want a general election despite Andy Burnham taking over as prime minister.

He told The Camilla Tominey Show on GB News: “We think there’s some huge challenges that this country faces. We’re determined to hear what Andy’s got to offer on those. But if he hasn’t got a solution to that – I mean, defence. We’re in a crisis with defence at the moment. The Secretary of State for Defence resigned because he doesn’t think we’re protecting this country.

“Politicians need to be losing sleep over that. The Prime Minister responsible for that needs to be losing sleep and coming up with a plan. We’ve got a new guy who’s arrived in office who hasn’t said a single thing on it.

“We’re ready for a general election when the general election comes. We want to see defence solved. We are ready for that general election.”

Asked if the party was avoiding calling for an election because the party would lose, Vickers said: “We are up for a general election, we want to see the country’s problem solved. But if that general election is coming, we are ready for it. We’re ready to take that pitch for the country.

“She [Kemi Badenoch] is happy to take that general election. We’re ready for that general election at the moment. This country has some very, very serious problems. As I said, the Secretary of State for Defence resigned because we’re not adequately protecting our country.

“We need that solution, and we need it now. We need a solution to the million young people who are not in education, employment, and training because this Labour government batters anybody who creates jobs and opportunities for people.

“People out there across the country are looking for the answers to some of these problems. They know they’re paying more and more in tax. They know there are less police on the streets, less teachers in our schools. It’s all going the wrong way.

“The only thing growing is the welfare budget. People in the north, in my part of the world, are sickened by that. They know they need solutions to those problems. Kemi is offering those solutions.”

He added: “Do you know what Andy Burnham is saying? Anything but answers to the real problems.

“He’s not got anything to say on defence. He’s not got anything to say on that ballooning welfare budget. He’s not got anything to say on those taxes. He’s not really got a solution to the energy crisis that’s affecting families and businesses.”

On reports that Burham will approve oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, he said: “He’s dipped his toe into this. He’s not saying that he’s going to open up those new licences. The reality is, we continue to import our oil and gas. It means we’re reliant upon hostile states.

“It means that prices are higher than they need to be. It means that 200,000 jobs are at risk in my part of the world. That’s disastrous.”