Andy Burnham, the newly elected Labour leader, will step outside the famous black door of 10 Downing Street on Monday to deliver his first address to the nation as Prime Minister. The speech, one of the most important of his political career, comes after he was invited to form a government by the King, following his sensational return to Parliament last month.
A Pledge to Tackle the Cost of Living
Burnham is expected to acknowledge the nation's weariness with the frequent turnover of Prime Ministers—he will be the sixth to walk up Downing Street in a decade. He will insist he is “acutely conscious” of the doom-scrolling of his predecessors. Crucially, he will promise to give Britain “more breathing space” on the cost of living, a move likely to resonate with cash-strapped families across the country.
The burden on households is at the top of voters' concerns, and it has been for some time. Polling by YouGov earlier this year found that no political party has a firm lead on who is best to handle the issue. In March, just 10% said the previous government was handling the cost-of-living crisis well.
A History of Prime Ministerial Visions
Burnham's address follows a pattern set by his predecessors. Theresa May pledged to tackle the nation's “burning injustices”; Boris Johnson promised to level up the country; Liz Truss told a weary public they could “ride out the storm”; and Rishi Sunak vowed to fix the mistakes of Truss. Keir Starmer, Burnham's predecessor as Labour leader, set out his mission of “national renewal”. All were visions, with varying degrees of success, delivered from the same podium.
The Stakes Couldn't Be Higher
With the world's media gathered on makeshift platforms erected by scaffolders in recent days, Burnham will have the chance to introduce himself to the country as Prime Minister and set the tone for his government for years to come. If his team wants to end the merry-go-round of Prime Ministers, tackling the pain of the cost-of-living crisis head-on is the right place to start.
It would be understandable if hard-pressed households—forced to endure years of hikes in energy, water, food, and council tax bills—are jaded by politicians' promises. That is why Burnham's delivery in the coming days, months, and years is critical. Monday's speech will be a major moment in the country's history, but easing the pain on households will be key if this new government is to succeed.
