PM challenged to song battle by health campaigner

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been challenged to a "rock battle" by a health campaigner.

Ashleigh Harley was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) in 2020, which causes her joints to dislocate without warning.

The 27-year-old believes she has lived with the condition since she was 12 and said her health became so bad that she needed life support after becoming unable to eat, walk or speak.

In a bid to raise awareness of EDS, she plans to duet with 1960s singer Brian Hyland outside Downing Street, performing his hit Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini.

Harley has already released her own version of the song to raise funds for her charity, Save Our Lives, but the unlikely musical double act will perform together on Saturday.

"Will [Burnham] be there? We've asked him and challenged him to a rock battle, but we've not heard anything back," she said.

"I'm doing the first solo, and Andy Burnham, you're very welcome to do the second solo."

"It's a happy song. When it comes on the radio, people start smiling - it's just one of those songs," he said.