Almost three months into his premiership, Andy Burnham has yet to answer several key questions about his government's direction. His style differs from his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, and Kemi Badenoch has described him as “a pair of eyelashes and a black T-shirt”. He often talks about football, music, and his favourite pubs.
However, on many major issues, it remains unclear what Mr Burnham will do differently. Labour MPs were keen to replace Sir Keir as his government was seen to be failing, but Mr Burnham has not yet explained his own approach.
Defence funding and social care
On defence, the Prime Minister has not explained how he will increase spending to 3% of GDP, or the NATO target of 3.5%. This issue prompted his Chancellor, John Healey, to resign as Defence Secretary under Sir Keir Starmer. Sir Keir had earlier revealed that British intelligence believes Russia could attack a NATO country by 2030.
In his conference speech, Mr Burnham discussed ending the adult social care lottery, where people with conditions such as dementia can lose everything to pay for care. He suggested a National Care Service would provide free treatment, but later reports indicated he was referring to a system similar to Scotland's, where a home may still need to be sold for care home costs.
It is unclear how any new system would be funded. Mr Burnham said he would water down the state pension triple lock, though Labour denies scrapping it, but this would not cover the cost of free social care. He has said the outcome of a review by Louise Casey must be awaited.
EU, small boats, and migration
Before becoming Prime Minister, Mr Burnham said he wanted the UK to rejoin the EU “in my lifetime”. During the Makerfield by-election, he pledged not to reopen the Brexit debate, but in his Labour conference speech he revealed plans to set out “different options” for EU relations, which could include rejoining.
On small boats, more than 85,000 people have arrived by that route since the July 2024 general election. The Prime Minister has said little beyond improving co-operation with France. The UK had already agreed to pay France £660 million, on top of £478 million paid over the previous three years.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood wants to change immigration rules to prevent more than 1.6 million migrants becoming eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Labour MPs oppose the plan, and there is speculation Mr Burnham wants her to scrap it or exclude 600,000 people who came as care workers, though the Home Office admits it does not know whether they work in the care sector. The Prime Minister has not yet said whether the reforms will proceed.
