Andy Burnham ended his first week as prime minister working out of Manchester’s new No 10 North, having unveiled a series of spending pledges totalling about £1.5bn aimed at tackling the cost of living.
In his first speech after taking office, Burnham said his “first instruction” would be “to end rough sleeping in our country”, backed by £340m of spending to support at least 3,000 people over five years, according to BBC Verify. The government said the money would come from existing “uncommitted” budgets in the housing department.
“Burnham's first week: £1.5bn pledges, but VAT cut and bus cap funding remain uncertain.”
On Tuesday, the Treasury announced it would cut VAT from domestic electricity bills, knocking an estimated £45 from the typical household’s annual bill from the autumn at a cost of £850m in 2026-27. To fund this, the government said it would scrap the previous administration's digital ID scheme, which had been estimated to cost £1.8bn over three years. However, the Office for Budget Responsibility had previously stated that the scheme was “unfunded”, meaning the VAT cut will still need to be covered by tax rises or spending cuts in the next budget.
On Wednesday, the government said it would reduce the cap on bus fares in England from £3 to £2 from 1 January 2027, excluding London. This is expected to cost more than £500m, with most of it funded by replacing grants for international climate projects with loans that would be repaid with interest.
Beyond the numbers, Burnham has cultivated a distinct style. The New Statesman described a “cultural revolution” — ties off, hugs instead of handshakes, and a speech delivered without notes outside Downing Street. Channel 4 News asked whether he is mastering “aura farming”, becoming Britain’s first truly social media-savvy prime minister. His 10K running time of 53 minutes and 15 seconds, almost exactly the average for a British male, has reinforced his “man of the people” reputation, according to Wales Online.
Burnham’s interview with Laura Kuenssberg will air across BBC News on Sunday, with the full interview shown on Panorama on Monday at 2000 BST. The Evening Standard reports that he is expected to make interventions on adult social care and youth unemployment next week.
But with the OBR questioning the funding for the VAT cut and the bus cap reliant on loan-based savings, questions remain about how the spending spree will be sustained. Burnham has promised a different kind of politics — but the arithmetic may yet catch up with the aura.