Andy Burnham will deliver his first speech as Labour leader on July 18, vowing an 'unashamedly Labour' government that prioritises growth in every postcode and returns power to communities. The Makerfield MP is set to be officially crowned at a special party conference, with his formal coronation as Prime Minister following on July 20 after Sir Keir Starmer's final PMQs.
Burnham to Pay Tribute to Starmer
A Labour source revealed that Burnham will credit Starmer with returning Labour to government and delivering 'one of the largest election victories in [its] history'. He is expected to praise Starmer's achievements, including NHS improvements, public service investment, and the Hillsborough Law—a campaign Burnham has long supported.
Vision for a Renewed Government
Burnham will set out his vision for a 'renewed' Labour government, focusing on 'driving growth in every postcode' and 'returning power to communities'. He will say it will have the 'courage to fix the big things that politics has neglected' and the 'conviction to argue for our plans'. He is also expected to argue that only a 'confident' Labour government can 'lift Britain up' by 'putting people and places back at the heart of national decision-making'.
New Path for Britain
Looking to recent history, Burnham is expected to say that Britain 'took a series of wrong turns in the 1980s' and that a 'new path' is required to build a country that 'works for all people and places'. The government he leads will be authentically Labour, offering a 'confident alternative' with a 'distinctively Labour' programme of economic renewal, more public control, reindustrialisation, and local power.
Commitment to Unity and Inclusion
He will promise that the party under his leadership will be 'unashamedly Labour' in its priorities and decisions, becoming 'more united' and open to working with other parties 'rather than internal division'. He is also set to commit to leading 'this great country' including Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the north and south of England.
Burnham will again praise the achievements of the Labour government, including stronger workers' rights, NHS improvements, public service investment, and the Hillsborough Law.
