Andy Burnham will enter Downing Street on Monday as Britain’s 59th prime minister, vowing to give people “more breathing room” on the cost of living — but his first day is already overshadowed by a simmering row over North Sea oil drilling that has exposed tensions within his own party.
The Labour leader, who officially replaces Sir Keir Starmer after a meeting with King Charles III, is the seventh prime minister in 10 years. In his first speech outside No 10, he is expected to say he is “acutely conscious” of that turnover and that politics must become more stable. He will characterise the moment as one of “reflection and resolution”, arguing Britain must be honest about the challenges it faces.
“Andy Burnham becomes 59th PM, promising 'more breathing room' and 'biggest change in 40 years', but faces immediate row over North Sea drilling.”
Yet even before his premiership begins, Burnham faces a clash over energy policy. US President Donald Trump praised the incoming PM for “opening up, all the way” North Sea reserves, claiming Scots were “dancing in the streets” of Aberdeen. But Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell immediately pushed back, insisting Burnham would stick to the party’s 2024 manifesto, which ruled out new drilling licences. The mismatch has fuelled speculation that Burnham may approve tiebacks — connecting new fields to existing infrastructure — which could allow drilling without technically breaching the manifesto. The Guardian understands the issue was the subject of “extensive” discussions among MPs over the weekend.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branded Burnham a “people pleaser” who has not said what he will do. “The job is not a popularity contest,” she said. Reform UK MP Richard Tice backed the idea of drilling, while Labour MP Mike Reader warned new licences would have “zero impact” on bills.
Burnham’s cabinet choices also remain unclear. He is expected to begin appointments on Monday afternoon. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood are both tipped for chancellor, with widespread belief Mahmood will get the job and Miliband foreign secretary. The chief whip, Jonathan Reynolds, is regarded as certain for business secretary, while former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is lined up for health secretary — though sources said she would need persuading to take the role.
In his leadership acceptance speech on Friday, Burnham declared his election “the most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years”, vowing to end “four decades of neoliberalism” and decentralise power, including by moving part of No 10 to Manchester. He has already scrapped Starmer’s controversial digital ID scheme, the “Brit card”, redirecting resources to cost-of-living measures.
The Mirror’s Voice column urged him to turn “hope into lower bills, better public services and a fairer deal for working families”. Whether he can deliver that — while navigating the North Sea minefield — will define the opening act of his premiership.
