Andy Burnham will deliver his first speech as Prime Minister on Monday, promising to “give Britain more breathing space” on the cost of living. The new Labour leader is expected to announce a policy blitz in his first week in No10 to ease pressure on cash-strapped households.
Acknowledging Political Turbulence
Burnham will acknowledge the turbulence in British politics as he replaces Keir Starmer just two years after Labour’s election victory. In his first address to the country, he will insist he is “acutely conscious” of being the sixth Prime Minister to walk up Downing Street in 10 years. He will describe the moment as one of “reflection and resolution” and insist the country must be honest about the challenges it faces.
Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, said on Sunday that Burnham will set out a “bolder more ambitious” vision for fixing Britain’s thorny problems, including the crisis-hit social care sector. He promised last week to “expend quite a lot of political capital” on social care. Allies said he will conclude his speech on a message of optimism, after telling Labour members he wanted to give voters “hope back”.
Transition of Power
Burnham will become Prime Minister after Starmer formally offers his resignation to the King at Buckingham Palace around lunchtime on Monday. The new Labour leader will then “kiss hands” with the monarch, who will invite him to form the next government, before setting out his vision outside Downing Street. After addressing the nation, he will be greeted by Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo behind the famous black door and receive briefings from officials.
The former Greater Manchester Mayor spent the weekend with his family and putting finishing touches to his Cabinet. He will announce his top team on Monday. There has been feverish speculation over the role of Chancellor, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood widely tipped to replace Rachel Reeves, sparking tensions among some on the left who hope the position will go to former leader Ed Miliband.
International Reactions and Policy Moves
The incoming Prime Minister is also expected to receive congratulatory calls from world leaders, including US President Donald Trump. On Sunday, Trump claimed people in Aberdeen will be “dancing in the streets” following reports that Burnham could back new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. Burnham has not confirmed reports that he is considering approving new fossil fuel production, particularly in the North Sea’s Rosebank and Jackdaw fields. But in a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump prematurely claimed Burnham had said he would: “The People of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets because the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has stated that he will be opening up, all the way, the invaluable North Sea Oil!”
Reports over the weekend also suggested Burnham could put crisis-hit Thames Water—which is battling a £20 billion debt pile—into a special administration regime (SAR). The ex-Greater Manchester Mayor has previously said he wants to see more public control of key utilities, including water. On Sunday, Lucy Powell fuelled speculation by saying privatisation of water “hasn’t worked”. She told Sky News: “This has been an ongoing issue and concern in government and has been around for many months now. The government has powers to bring a distressed water company under special measures, and let's see if the government needs to—wants to—use those powers.”
Domestic Policy Agenda
Promising a “reset of priorities”, Burnham has already announced over the weekend he will scrap Starmer’s flagship digital ID programme to focus money and attention on the cost of living. Earlier this month he also announced plans for the biggest council house building programme since the post-war era. He has said he wants to devolve power away from Westminster as one of his key priorities, driving that agenda with a new “No 10 North” in Manchester, which he is expected to visit later in the week.
The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said Burnham’s plans to establish a No10 North was a “game-changer”. She told the BBC: “It’s not just a gimmick, it’s not vacuous, it’s absolutely about taking power from the South and putting it in a different part of the country so that we govern for the whole country.”
