Within days of entering No 10, Andy Burnham has made two decisions that define his early premiership: he paused a controversial early prison release scheme, and he declared he would call out Donald Trump if it served Britain's national interest. Both moves signal a leader willing to break with the recent past on justice and foreign policy — but they also expose the delicate balancing act ahead.
On 23 July 2026, Burnham announced he was halting the Sentencing Act, a scheme due to take effect in September that would have let some offenders out after serving a third of their sentence instead of half. The policy, introduced under Keir Starmer's government, aimed to ease prison overcrowding. But it drew fierce opposition from victims' families, including Lissie Harper, widow of PC Andrew Harper, who called the plans "deplorable". The new prime minister said no prisoners would be released until an urgent review was completed, and his Justice Secretary Alex Norris argued the pause would "give victims and survivors certainty".
“Andy Burnham's early moves on prison policy and US relations show a leader balancing justice and diplomacy.”
Across the Atlantic, Burnham faced a different test. In his first major broadcast interview as PM, he told the BBC he had a warm initial phone call with Donald Trump — but twice declined to say whether he trusted the US president. Instead, he said he would not hesitate to voice a different opinion if it was "right for Britain". Defence Secretary Wes Streeting reinforced the message: Trump's team, he argued, did not want allies who "suck up". The backdrop is a key policy rift: Burnham has continued Starmer's refusal to back US offensive operations in Iran, a stance that drew public attacks from Trump previously.
The pause on early releases stems from the same overcrowding crisis that saw the prison population in England and Wales hit record highs. Under the old rules, more serious offenders would be released after two-thirds of their sentence, but the new law would have cut that to half. Critics say it undermined justice; supporters argue it was the only way to stop the system collapsing. Burnham's review will now decide whether to keep, amend or scrap the scheme entirely.
For UK readers, both decisions have real consequences. The prison pause affects thousands of prisoners and victims: around 700 inmates were due for release in early September. On foreign policy, the UK-US "special relationship" remains vital for trade, intelligence-sharing and defence — but 74% of UK voters in a recent poll said they want the PM to stand up to Trump when needed. Burnham's stance on Iran also has direct implications: UK forces in the region could face new tensions if hostilities escalate.
Q: Will Andy Burnham actually disagree with Donald Trump in public? He says he will, and has already done so over Iran. In his interview, he said he would need to "voice a different idea that is right for Britain" and that defending the national interest came first. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting also made clear the UK would not back offensive action in Iran.
Q: Why was the early prison release scheme paused? Burnham said it was to "minimise risk to the public" after criticism from victims' families, including PC Andrew Harper's widow. A review will examine the policy and the information given to victims. The pause means no prisoners will be released early under the scheme until further notice.
Q: How does this affect defence spending? Burnham has not committed to a date for reaching 3% of GDP on defence, a target his Chancellor John Healey previously demanded by 2030. The PM said the "first challenge" is ensuring the defence investment plan is fully funded, ahead of the budget later this year.
What happens next is uncertain. The prison review is expected to report before September's planned release date. On foreign policy, Burnham will meet Trump at a future summit — likely the UN General Assembly in September — where their differences on Iran and defence spending will be tested. The new PM has ruled out an early general election, saying "I don't think people want it."