Andy Burnham to promise new path when he becomes new Labour leader

Andy Burnham will promise a new path for Britain in his speech as he becomes the new leader of the Labor Party on Friday.

The Makerfield MP’s job will be confirmed at a special party conference in central London before he takes over as prime minister from Sir Keir Starmer on Monday.

In her speech, Burnham will say that while she is in Downing Street, the government will be “unashamedly Labor on our priorities” and will 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 Labor MPs and most of the party’s unions earlier this week.

Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood, as chair of Labour’s ruling national executive committee, will announce Burnham as the new leader at the conference.

It will mark the former Greater Manchester mayor’s rapid rise to power following his by-election victory in Makerfield last month.

Burnham says making the economy work for people in the UK will require “a new path to the one we’ve been on for the last 40 years”.

In his first speech as Labor leader, he will also say that when he becomes Prime Minister, his Labor government will “focus on stimulating growth in every postcode and returning power to communities”.

He will say the government will have the “conviction to defend our plans”.

Promising a “distinctive Labour” program of economic policy, Burnham will say his plans include greater public control of public services such as water and re-industrialisation.

He said Labor would be more united under his leadership and more open to working with other parties on the long-term challenges facing the country.

He will pledge to be a leader “for north and south, for Scotland, for Wales and Northern Ireland, and for every town and every city in every nation and region of this great country.”

He will also express his gratitude to Sir Keir for winning the general election in 2024 and point to NHS improvements and investment in public services as the Labor government’s achievements so far.

Sir Keir resigned as Labor leader last month, saying he accepted he was not in the best position to lead his party into the next general election.

Labour’s heavy losses in May’s local elections, followed by Burnham’s byelection victory in Makerfield, had left Sir Keir facing widespread calls from his own MPs to step aside and allow Burnham to replace him.

When potential leadership candidates former health minister Wes Streeting and former defense minister Al Carns said they would not challenge Burnham, it paved the way for her to become the next unopposed prime minister.

Sir Keir said he would support his successor and advise him privately if requested.

Speaking to Sky News during a visit to Ukraine on Thursday, he said he wanted an “orderly transition” and that he had built a “sound foundation” for Burnham.

His successor has given few details about his policy plans and has not announced who will be appointed to key cabinet posts.

Announcements about cabinet posts are not expected to be made until Monday, when Burnham takes up her post in No 10.

But multiple reports suggest Shabana Mahmood could be chosen as Burnham’s chancellor, and the BBC has been told there are “lively discussions” on the issue.

On the policy front, Burnham gave some details about his mission plan in a speech in Manchester earlier this month.

It has proposed a new No 10 in Manchester, where a team would be tasked with giving the local authority greater control in areas such as housing and transport.

In the first weeks of her premiership, Burnham plans to undertake a “listening tour” of Britain while Parliament is in recess this summer.

Burnham has signaled that providing extra support for living costs will be one of her priorities in government.

He defended his credibility on economic policy by insisting he would not be “undisciplined” on public finances.

But the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned Burnham’s new government to avoid increasing public spending in the face of pressures such as rising household energy bills.

Britain should try to focus on plans to grow the economy, the IMF said in a new report on the UK.

“This requires a cautious approach to new fiscal pressures: Authorities must be very selective in meeting new demands and resetting priorities while adhering to the deficit reduction plan,” the report says.

“Future spending reviews should focus on reallocating resources across departments rather than increasing overall spending.”