Andy Burnham started his premiership with a promise to end rough sleeping, echoing his first mayoral pledge. In his inaugural address to the nation, the new Prime Minister said he wants to put "the right values and the right standards at the heart of government."
"I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do. I will give this my all and I ask you all to pull with me," he said. The pledge recalls his 2017 mayoral promise to end rough sleeping in Greater Manchester by 2020, a target that remains unmet.
Progress and Challenges on Rough Sleeping
In nine years as mayor, Burnham launched 'A Bed Every Night' to provide emergency accommodation and support, donating 15% of his mayoral salary to the project. Rough sleeping in Greater Manchester dropped from 268 people in 2017 to 90 in 2021, but rose to 197 in 2025. Nationally, rough sleeping in England fell from 4,751 in 2017 to 2,443 in 2021, but currently stands at 4,793.
On the morning of his premiership, Burnham visited The Passage at St Vincent's Centre in Victoria, speaking to rough sleepers. He described the visit as the "best place to start," seeing "the lives that are being turned around."
Endorsements and Criticism
Seventy-eight CEOs and senior leaders of homelessness organisations wrote to Burnham calling for a national Housing First philosophy, which provides unconditional housing and wrap-around support, already adopted in Greater Manchester. Coffee4Craig, a Manchester charity, endorsed Burnham: "Andy is one of our own... a decent human being" who "has never backed away from his promises to us."
However, Burnham has faced criticism for being thin-skinned on the issue. The rough sleeping pledge drew sharp reactions, as it has been one of his toughest policy pledges.
A Meeting of Kings and a New Cabinet
Outgoing PM Sir Keir Starmer praised the "greatness of Britain" in his final speech, wishing Burnham "every success." Burnham met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, then addressed the nation without notes or a lectern. He mentioned voters "fed up with politics," pledged to "make this moment a circuit breaker for Britain," and spoke of a "wrong turn" in the 1980s.
Burnham's first call as PM was to US President Donald Trump, inviting him to Manchester, to which Trump reacted positively. Key Starmer loyalists—David Lammy, Steve Reed, Rachel Reeves, Peter Kyle, and Liz Kendall—left the Cabinet, with new appointments expected.
Personal Moments
Burnham hugged his mother Eileen at Downing Street, who appeared tearful. He noted his father Roy, who has Alzheimer's, is unaware of his achievement. "It's a family achievement... although he doesn't know it, it still makes me feel that we've kind of done something together," Burnham told The Times.
Artist Stanley Chow created a new portrait of Burnham for the Manchester Evening News, noting his "quite a cute face" and a slightly more smiley expression. Burnham wore a suit and blue tie for the occasion but is expected to return to casual attire when in the North.
In an exclusive letter to the Manchester Evening News, Burnham thanked the people of Greater Manchester, reflecting on the Manchester Arena attack, Covid-19, the Bee Network, A Bed Every Night, and devolution efforts.
