Andy Burnham will promise a “new path” for Britain when he is confirmed as Labour leader on Friday, before taking over as prime minister from Sir Keir Starmer on Monday. In his first speech as party leader at a special conference in central London, the Makerfield MP will say the government will be “unashamedly Labour in our priorities” and have the “courage to fix the big things that politics has neglected”.
Burnham cemented his status as the sole leadership candidate after being backed by 379 Labour MPs and most trade unions. His rapid rise followed a by-election victory in Makerfield last month, which came after heavy Labour losses in May’s local elections left Starmer facing widespread calls to stand aside. Potential challengers Wes Streeting and Al Carns said they would not run, paving the way for Burnham to become prime minister unopposed.
“Andy Burnham will promise to 'fix the big things' as he becomes prime minister on Monday.”
In his speech, Burnham will argue that Britain took “a series of wrong turns in the 1980s”, when political power was centralised and economic power privatised. He will call for a “new path to the one we’ve been on for the last 40 years”, promising an “authentically Labour” programme of economic renewal, more public control of utilities like water, and reindustrialisation. He will also commit to being a leader “for the north and the south, for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland”.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who will announce Burnham as leader at the conference, is now the frontrunner to become chancellor. The BBC has been told of “live discussions” about putting Mahmood in Number 11, while the Financial Times reports it as a certainty. Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, said markets were already rallying on reports of her appointment, with the pound up about 1% this week. However, according to the Press Association, Mahmood is keen to remain as home secretary.
Burnham’s policy agenda includes pushing powers to local leaders, creating a “No 10 North” outpost in Manchester, and sticking to Labour’s 2024 manifesto on taxes – no rise in income tax, VAT or national insurance. He has pledged not to scrap the state pension triple lock, and faces the challenge of welfare reform as the Timms review into disability benefits prepares its final recommendations.
His speech on Friday will also pay tribute to Starmer for winning the 2024 general election and for NHS improvements and investment in public services. But the incoming prime minister faces a daunting in-tray: high debt, low growth, and the economic fallout from the US-Israel war with Iran. The new cabinet is expected to be confirmed on Monday.
