Andy Burnham has promised to deliver the biggest changes to Britain’s political and economic model in 40 years after becoming the country’s new Prime Minister.
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street after accepting King Charles III’s invitation to form a government, Burnham acknowledged the extraordinary turnover at the top of British politics.
He is the seventh person to serve as Prime Minister since 2016 and replaces Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned after just over two years in office.
Burnham said the rapid succession of political leaders should become “a moment for reflection and new resolution”, admitting that many members of the public had lost faith in politicians.
“I know people at home are fed up with politics,” he said.
“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.”
Watch Andy Burnham’s first speech as Prime Minister
Andy Burnham delivered the following six-minute address outside 10 Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace.
A ‘circuit breaker for Britain’
Burnham described the formation of his government as an opportunity to provide a “circuit breaker for Britain”.
He promised to introduce a new political model and a new economic model, arguing that decisions taken during the 1980s had left parts of the country struggling with long-term industrial and economic decline.
Burnham said political power had become increasingly centralised in Westminster while economic power had been transferred into private ownership.
Large areas of the country had then been deindustrialised and had never fully recovered, he argued.
The Prime Minister said:
“Many feel as though they’re still in decline and they don’t have the ability to turn things around.”
Burnham promised to make politics more collaborative and focused on solving problems rather than scoring political points.
He also pledged to transfer more power away from Westminster and into communities across the country.
However, the Prime Minister did not provide details of which powers would be devolved or when the changes would take effect.
Essential services under stronger public control
Burnham indicated that his government would take a more interventionist approach to the economy.
He promised to put essential services under stronger public control in an attempt to make them more affordable.
The government would also use public procurement — the money spent by government departments and public bodies — to support British companies and encourage the reindustrialisation of the country.
Burnham did not identify which services could face greater public control or whether his plans would involve nationalisation, new regulation or different ownership arrangements.
Further details are expected as the government develops its wider economic programme.
Ten-year plan for Britain
A new 10-year plan setting out the government’s long-term direction will be published later this year.
Burnham said it would provide a route from Britain’s current economic and political position towards a country that people could support regardless of their previous party allegiance.
Although the full plan will not be published immediately, the Prime Minister promised more urgent assistance for households facing financial pressure.
He said the government would begin announcing cost-of-living measures on Tuesday, July 21, including details of how the proposals would be funded.
Burnham said:
“I can do something to give people some breathing space now, some help with the cost of living.”
The precise measures were not revealed during the Downing Street speech.
Council housing, youth employment and mental health
Burnham also outlined plans to help more young people enter employment by changing the education system and providing additional support.
Mental health provision would be expanded while the government would build more council homes, he said.
The Prime Minister presented these policies as a fairer and more sustainable way of reducing the welfare bill than cutting support after people had already fallen into financial or personal crisis.
He said the approach would allow the government to meet its fiscal rules while continuing to honour Britain’s defence commitments to its international partners.
Burnham described his broader objective as the creation of a more preventative state.
Rather than spending money dealing with the consequences of poor health, unemployment and homelessness, the government would invest earlier in helping people succeed.
First instruction will target rough sleeping
Burnham said his first instruction after entering Number 10 would be to begin work towards ending rough sleeping in Britain.
The government subsequently announced an additional £340 million to support its national drive, taking overall funding for the programme to what Downing Street described as record levels.
The money is expected to support the acquisition of suitable homes and help thousands of people move away from long-term rough sleeping over the next five years.
Burnham’s declaration represents an ambition rather than a claim that rough sleeping can be eliminated immediately.
The government will face questions about its timetable, the availability of appropriate housing and how progress will be measured.
Major questions remain unanswered
Burnham’s first address established the political direction of his government but provided limited detail about how its largest promises would be delivered.
Questions still requiring answers include which essential services will be brought under stronger public control, how power will be transferred from Westminster and how a substantial programme of council house building will be funded.
The government must also explain whether its economic plans will require higher taxes, additional borrowing, spending reductions elsewhere or a combination of all three.
Burnham has promised to maintain existing fiscal rules, placing limits on the amount the government can borrow to fund everyday spending.
Financial markets and opposition parties are therefore likely to scrutinise his first major appointments and spending announcements closely.
‘The moment Britain starts to believe again’
Burnham ended his speech by promising to place the care of people at the heart of government.
He called on the public to support the new administration in rebuilding a sense of national unity, common purpose and optimism.
“I will give this my all,” he said.
“Let us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again. The moment we bring back hope.”
The scale of the promises made outside Downing Street was considerable.
The first test of Burnham’s new government will come almost immediately, when it reveals its promised cost-of-living measures and begins explaining how its ambitions will be paid for.
Sources
- UK Government: Prime Minister’s Office announcement on Andy Burnham’s first speech and the national drive to end rough sleeping.
- Reuters: Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister and promises to “rewire Britain”.
- Reuters: Live coverage of the transfer of power.
- Associated Press: Andy Burnham replaces Keir Starmer as UK Prime Minister.
- Original Downing Street speech video supplied by the publisher.