Andy Burnham will dismiss 'point scoring' as he seeks to build bridges in Scotland and Wales and get growth firing across the country. The new Prime Minister will hit the road today after a frenetic few days in No10, where he appointed his Cabinet and started rolling out cost of living plans, including a VAT cut on energy bills and the return of the £2 bus fare cap.
Talks with First Ministers
He is expected to hold talks with Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Welsh FM Rhun ap Iorwerth, before attending the opening ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Ahead of the visit, he rejected the prospect of 'point scoring or discussing constitutional changes like referendums' and said he was focused on practical change.
Political Context
It comes after Labour was wiped out in Wales in May after more than a century in power, paving the way for Plaid Cymru's leader to become First Minister. The party also suffered its worst ever Holyrood election result, leaving it tied with Reform behind the SNP. The results mean Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are now all governed by nationalist parties.
Prime Minister's Statement
The Prime Minister said: 'When I say we need good growth in every postcode, I mean every postcode across the whole of the UK. Every place and every person matters. I'm not focused on point scoring or discussing constitutional changes like referendums, I want practical measures to help people live well and bring back hope. That's why I'm giving families more breathing space with help on the cost of living, which I have started this week by taking VAT off electricity bills, saving money for millions of households.'
Upcoming Visits
Mr Burnham is due to meet the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill, and Deputy FM Emma Little-Pengelly in August on a summer tour of the UK. The new PM will travel to areas where Labour has been struggling in a bid to win back fed-up voters. Port Talbot, the steelmaking town in south Wales which lost its final blast furnace in 2024, is believed to be on his itinerary, along with Aberdeen, where the Tories triumphed in a recent by-election amid anger of Labour's oil and gas policy.
Maintaining Momentum
It is understood that team Burnham want to maintain momentum over the summer, to avoid repeating some of the mistakes of his predecessor. Keir Starmer's first summer in office was dominated by a backlash over the decision to cut the winter fuel allowance and a row over freebies, with the riots following the Southport murders puncturing optimism further. Last summer, Reform seized control of the news agenda with a drumbeat of announcements on immigration.
Cabinet Appointments
It comes as Mr Burnham continues to shape his top team, with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar expected to get a peerage to serve in the new Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. Mr Sarwar, who has been Scottish Labour leader since 2021, was the first big figure to call for Keir Starmer to quit in February, pushing the-then PM to the brink. He would stand down as leader and as a Glasgow MSP to sit in the Lords.
