Andy Burnham will become the UK's new Prime Minister on Monday, July 20, after being officially confirmed as Labour leader on Friday. The former Greater Manchester mayor will spend the weekend finalising government plans and moving into Downing Street.
Cabinet Appointments and Key Decisions
One of Burnham's most pressing tasks is finalising his cabinet. There is speculation over his choice of chancellor, with Labour left allies favouring Ed Miliband, but reports suggest Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will get the role. Despite pressure, Burnham said he would announce his ministerial team on Monday. “I am finalising those decisions, and I will come to conclusions very shortly, and then I will announce those on Monday,” he said.
North Sea Drilling Announcement
According to the BBC, Burnham will also announce plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea on Monday. This is despite the Labour Party's 2024 manifesto, which Burnham said he would follow, pledging not to issue new licences but to honour existing ones. The announcement has been backed by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who spoke out on the issue while in Aberdeen, where the Tories recently won a Westminster by-election. She said the by-election was a “referendum on drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea” and insisted: “If Andy Burnham has any common sense he will allow drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.”
Public Opinion and Industry Reaction
A new poll by Optimum suggests almost half of people (49%) want the UK Government to back new oil and gas developments, more than double the 24% who want the current ban to continue. Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), which commissioned the polling, said it showed that “the British public are looking for huge change in energy policy from the new Prime Minister”.
Other Measures in the Pipeline
The BBC reports the North Sea announcement will be part of a “flurry of measures” from Burnham, including plans to take water and energy companies under public control and a new council house-building programme. On Thursday, it was also announced that British Steel was brought under public ownership to protect “the future of steel production”, according to the Department for Business and Trade, which said the move was essential to maintain steel production at the company’s site in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, to protect both the company’s future and UK supply chains.
