Andy Burnham will promise to give people "more breathing room" when he delivers his first speech as prime minister outside No 10 on Monday – stepping into office as the seventh person to hold the job in a decade. The Labour leader, who becomes the UK's 59th premier after a meeting with King Charles III, said he is "acutely conscious" of the country's rapid turnover of prime ministers and will argue politics needs to be more stable and responsible.
Burnham is expected to characterise the moment as one of "reflection and resolution", insisting Britain must be honest about the challenges it faces. In a letter published on Sunday evening, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wished him "every success" but warned he was entering office without "any clear plan". She accused him of refusing to face MPs or submit to serious media scrutiny. "This is not a promising start," she wrote. Badenoch earlier called Burnham a "people pleaser" at a time when the country needs someone who can "take tough decisions" and "face down Labour MPs".
“Andy Burnham becomes UK's seventh PM in 10 years, pledging 'more breathing room' and political stability.”
Some opposition parties have urged Burnham to call a general election to secure a mandate, but Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell insisted he would stick to manifesto promises though with a "bolder more ambitious" approach. "He really understands the bigger, bolder measures that are needed to live up to the manifesto promises," she told the BBC.
Burnham's first policy moves are expected to focus on easing the cost of living: sources say he may target bus fares and take steps to bring down energy bills, including opening the door to more North Sea oil and gas drilling in existing areas. The reported drilling plan drew praise from Donald Trump, who claimed people of Aberdeen were "dancing in the street". The policy has not yet been confirmed, and environmental campaigners and some MPs are expected to oppose it.
Cabinet appointments will begin later on Monday after Burnham returns from Buckingham Palace. Among the widely expected roles: Shabana Mahmood as chancellor, Ed Miliband as foreign secretary, Jonathan Reynolds as business secretary, and Lou Haigh as the leading Cabinet Office minister. Angela Rayner is said to be lined up for health secretary, though sources say she would need persuading that the role fits her main interests in devolution, regional inequality and the cost of living.
Burnham, who became Labour leader on Friday after being the only candidate with the backing of 379 MPs, will now have to navigate a frayed relationship with the US and a defence budget black hole. His promise of stability will be tested by a nation weary of frequent leadership changes.
