In his first seven days in Downing Street, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made several major announcements, from ruling out a general election to capping bus fares and cutting business rates for pubs.
No General Election
Burnham has faced calls to hold a general election after winning his seat in a by-election and becoming Labour leader and PM without a public vote. He ruled out a snap poll, saying he would stick to Labour’s 2024 manifesto. “I don't think that is right. We live in a parliamentary democracy. There was a manifesto in 2024. I’m sticking to that manifesto,” he said. He added that holding an election now “would postpone that essential work.”
Labour Leads in Polls
Labour has moved ahead of Reform in voting intention for the first time since March 2025. Luke Tryl, director at More in Common, said: “Our latest voting intention sees a cross over. Labour move ahead by 4. Their first lead since March 2025 & highest share since Nov 24.” He added: “This also marks the first time Reform have not led in our tracker since April 2025.”
Bus Fare Cap
Burnham announced a cap on single bus fares across England at £2 from January. The current cap is £3. The measure will be partly funded by switching grants for international climate projects to repayable loans. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “The detail will need to be worked out.”
Relationship with Trump
In his first major TV interview as PM, Burnham twice refused to say whether he trusts Donald Trump. He insisted he is prepared to call out the US President if needed to defend Britain's “national interest before anything else.” Burnham said his first phone call with Trump was “good” and found him “really warm,” but declined to confirm trust.
No.10 North
Burnham officially opened the No.10 North regional hub at Heron House in Manchester, calling it “the best day of my life.” The office aims to rebalance political power. The building also houses the city’s registry office, and weddings continue as normal.
Dog Axel Stays North
Burnham revealed his pet dog Axel, a bichon frise-poodle cross, will not move to Downing Street due to a potential clash with Larry the cat. “I think he's going to have to stay up north I think, because he's kind of got that angry little man thing going on. He's got a bit of poodle in him,” he said.
Business Rates Cut for Pubs
From April next year, business rates will be slashed by 20% for pubs, clubs, and live music venues across England. The reduction is expected to save an average pub around £1,100 per year and apply to nearly 32,000 hospitality businesses. The largest live music venues will not be eligible. The changes will be funded by reassessing reliefs for vape shops and clamping down on online marketplaces failing to meet tax obligations.
