Andy Burnham latest: New UK prime minister to be appointed by King Charles after Starmer’s final speech

Andy Burnham said Times “We are not in the right place as a country,” he said before becoming prime minister on Monday.

Referring to his promise to produce a 10-year plan for the country, Mr Burnham said: “I’m not saying that I’m setting out to say I’ll be here for 10 years. It’s more that we’re not in the right place structurally, we’re not in the right place as a country. I think people can sense that.”

He added: “To be clear with people, this can’t be done overnight. But you have to show people where we are going and then the steps towards it. That’s what I’ll try to do.”

Speaking about his approach to the economy, Mr Burnham said: “I think you need to rethink how we do business to take a different approach to public spending and managing the economy – more focus on early investment, early intervention, setting people up for success and paying much less for failure.”

Referring to plans to scrap Sir Keir Starmer’s digital identity scheme, Mr Burnham added: “This is an example of what’s to come, freeing up resources for something that, in my view, is not going to make a material difference to people’s lives anytime soon. And even if it did, it wouldn’t make life easier, it might just work in the long run.”

In the intervention, hours before the new prime minister was due to enter Downing Street, the US president, a strong supporter of fossil fuels who has repeatedly rejected the scientifically supported evidence behind the climate crisis, said the move would prevent Britain from turning into a “poverty-ridden disaster”.

Mr Burnham has previously insisted Labor will stick to its manifesto not to grant new North Sea licences. But he also refused to deny reports that he was considering approving the new production.

Mr Trump said on the Truth Social platform: “The people of Aberdeen in Scotland are dancing in the streets because the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that he will open up the priceless North Sea Oil!”

The comments mark the beginning of what could be a tumultuous four-year relationship with Britain’s fifth prime minister.

The leader, who will be dubbed Andy Burnham’s chancellor, is already causing tension among his supporters on the left over his past support for tax and benefit cuts. Political Editor writes David Maddox.

But MPs on the party’s left, who were the biggest backers of Mr Burnham’s replacement in parliament to replace Sir Keir Starmer, now fear he will choose someone from the party’s right to oversee economic policy.

Party insiders noted that Ms Mahmood was a prominent internal critic of the tax increases, with Rachel Reeves privately branding them “ridiculous”, “anti-aspirational” and “anti-competitive”.

Andy Burnham will vow to restore confidence in the government and give people “breathing space” when he becomes prime minister today.

The New Labor leader will explain his domestic priorities in his first speech in Downing Street after visiting the Palace to “kiss hands” with the King and will officially take over from Sir Keir Starmer.

He is expected to describe the moment as a moment of “reflection and analysis”, arguing that Britain must be honest about the challenges it faces and show it can solve them.

He will also say he is “absolutely conscious” that the UK has had seven prime ministers in the last 10 years and underlines the need for more stable and responsible policies.

Mr Burnham’s allies said he would argue that political stability should deliver “tangible” improvements to the cost of living along with the “breathing room” he has previously promised.

Mr Burnham, who became Labor leader uncontested just a month after returning to Westminster, has yet to set out much of his agenda for his premiership.

He has already said he wants to devolve power from Westminster as one of his key priorities and wants to drive that agenda with a new “No 10 North” in Manchester, which he is expected to visit later in the week.

Promising a “reset of priorities”, Mr Burnham also announced he would cancel Sir Keir’s flagship digital identity program to focus money and attention on the cost of living.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to make a final statement about his role as prime minister at Downing Street on Monday before heading to Buckingham Palace to resign.

This is expected to happen around 11:15 a.m. Monday morning. Andy Burnham will then meet King Charles to accept the role of prime minister and head to Number 10, where he will make his first speech as Labor leader just before 1pm.