Andy Burnham, in his first address to the nation as Prime Minister from outside No 10 Downing Street, declared his arrival in power would be a 'circuit breaker' moment for Britain, pledging to restore hope to millions. He took over from Keir Starmer after meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace, becoming the sixth UK prime minister in a decade.
Circuit Breaker for Britain
Burnham stated his government would bring forward the biggest changes in the last 40 years, introducing a new political and economic model. He acknowledged the cost of living pressures and promised measures starting Tuesday to give people 'some breathing space now', expected to include help with energy bills and bus fares, with funding details to be announced.
Ending Rough Sleeping
His first instruction in power was to end rough sleeping, a pledge previously made by Jeremy Corbyn, following a visit to homeless people in central London. Burnham said: 'I am acutely conscious that I am the sixth person in the last 10 years to walk up this street... This requires my generation of politicians to raise our game and rise to the new challenge.'
New Political and Economic Model
Burnham criticised the 1980s for centralising political power, privatising economic power, and deindustrialising large parts of the country. He pledged to change politics to be more collaborative and problem-solving, and to 'take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land'. He will begin making cabinet appointments on Monday afternoon.
He concluded: 'Let's build a new national sense of unity, of common purpose, and positivity. Let us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again, the moment we bring back hope.' Burnham returned to parliament last month in a byelection staged by his allies to replace Starmer after a series of political mishaps and U-turns.
