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Andy Burnham is elected as the new leader of the British Labour Party. He will formally succeed Keir Starmer as prime minister on Monday.
Confirmed
Arguing that his election was the most significant change in British politics for 40 years, Burnham said this was the “last chance” for Labour to get things right. When potential leadership contenders said they would not challenge Burnham, it paved the way for him to become the next prime minister unopposed.
Although he has not yet set out detailed policies, Burnham said the broad areas where he wanted to focus were handing power to communities, being a pro-business leader, and building more social and council housing. Labour sources also said there was a “big beast” being lined up for foreign secretary given Burnham’s wish to focus on domestic affairs, while Angela Rayner was tipped for health secretary to tackle social care.
Addressing a room of senior Labour politicians and supporters, Burnham said the country was “crying out for a new politics”. The leadership election quickly turned into a coronation as an unassailable majority of the party’s 403 MPs backed Burnham.
But he also said it was Labour’s “last chance to change” and the party must do so as a united movement. In his acceptance speech, Burnham pledged to give people “hope back” and challenge a political culture and economic model he said “simply doesn’t work well enough for ordinary people.
In his speech on the Downing Street steps on Monday, he will lay out his “vision for a better Britain”, with policies to help with the cost of living announced in his first week. Unison said Burnham “must get this right and bring back the hope he promises”, while Usdaw said “our members will now rightly expect his vision to be translated into action”.
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. Today we moved beyond it,” he said, pledging to lead a “distinctively Labour” government that would not seek to copy the Tories, Greens or Reform UK.
“First, I will work relentlessly to build a culture of one Labour team, because change starts with us,” he said. Despite vowing to remain in his post, Starmer announced his intention to resign days later.
Sir Keir has said he will support his successor and offer him advice privately, if asked.
What's confirmed
- Arguing that his election was the most significant change in British politics for 40 years, Burnham said this was the “last chance” for Labour to get things right.
- Although he has not yet set out detailed policies, Burnham said the broad areas where he wanted to focus were handing power to communities, being a pro-business leader, and building more social and council housing.
- Addressing a room of senior Labour politicians and supporters, Burnham said the country was “crying out for a new politics”.
- But he also said it was Labour’s “last chance to change” and the party must do so as a united movement.
- In his speech on the Downing Street steps on Monday, he will lay out his “vision for a better Britain”, with policies to help with the cost of living announced in his first week.
- 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.
What's still developing
- When potential leadership contenders said they would not challenge Burnham, it paved the way for him to become the next prime minister unopposed.
- Sir Keir has said he will support his successor and offer him advice privately, if asked.
- 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.
- In his acceptance speech, Burnham pledged to give people “hope back” and challenge a political culture and economic model he said “simply doesn’t work well enough for ordinary people.
- Despite vowing to remain in his post, Starmer announced his intention to resign days later.
- The leadership election quickly turned into a coronation as an unassailable majority of the party’s 403 MPs backed Burnham.
- Arguing that his election was the most significant change in British politics for 40 years, Burnham said this was the “last chance” for Labour to get things right.
- Today we moved beyond it,” he said, pledging to lead a “distinctively Labour” government that would not seek to copy the Tories, Greens or Reform UK.