Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke MP Pamela Nash has welcomed Andy Burnham’s appointment as Prime Minister following the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer.
Burnham Vows to End Thatcherism
Mr Burnham used his first day as Prime Minister to bury the toxic legacy of Thatcherism and vow to “bring back hope” to Scotland and the UK. The PM promised his Labour Government would be a “circuit breaker” after the “wrong turns” of the 80s under the late Tory leader. He also vowed to end rough sleeping and will announce cost of living measures.
Nash Praises Starmer and Burnham
Ms Nash said: “Yesterday was a momentous day as we welcomed our new Prime Minister to his post. Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership will be remembered for stabilising our economy, lifting millions of children out of poverty and providing international leadership on Ukraine. He is a man of honour and complete dedication to public service. I wish him and his family every happiness for their next chapter.”
“Andy Burnham represents a fresh start for the UK, as we take on the domestic and global challenges of now and the future. As he said yesterday, this is the moment for Britain to believe again.”
“He shares the same priorities as my constituents across Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke; to put more money in people’s pockets, to create opportunities for young people, and to secure our country in a riskier global landscape. He doesn’t have a magic wand, but he has the energy, focus and vision to make the changes we need, and I’m excited to work with him to make our hopes a reality.”
Burnham’s First Moves
Mr Burnham’s moves came after a historic day at Westminster. His predecessor, Keir Starmer, offered his resignation to the King and Mr Burnham was announced as PM after his own meeting with the monarch. He made his way to Downing Street where he made a speech calling time on Thatcher’s policies. Mr Burnham has promised greater public ownership of these industries and more council homes.
Addressing the nation, he said: “I know people at home are fed up with politics. I hear you and I want to be honest with you – we have not been good enough, and we need to be better. We will be.”
“We will make this a circuit breaker for Britain, bringing forward the biggest changes in the last 40 years – a new political model and a new economic model. In the 1980s, Britain took some wrong turns. Political power was centralised, economic power privatised, large parts of the country deindustrialised.”
He added: “Many feel as though they’re still in decline and they don’t have the ability to turn things around. That’s why we will change politics to make it more about problem solving than point scoring.”
“We will take power out of here, and carry it into every postcode in the land, so they can do more and build a new economy, where we put life’s essentials back under stronger public control to make them affordable to you again, reindustrialising Britain using public procurement to back British industry.”
