Andy Burnham has delivered his first speech as Prime Minister outside Downing Street, marking the beginning of his premiership after Keir Starmer was forced out by MPs. Burnham, formerly the Greater Manchester Mayor, became the sixth Prime Minister in a decade and pledged to bring stability back to Britain.
PIP Benefits Under Review
While his speech was light on policy detail, Burnham touched on benefits reform, specifically the UK's main disability benefit, Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which is currently under review. The benefit has seen ballooning costs due to a surge in claims, particularly from younger people with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
An interim report earlier this month concluded that PIP would have to change, with final recommendations due to arrive on Burnham's desk in November. Payments could potentially be cut for those with conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Focus on Youth Employment
Burnham did not specifically mention PIP but emphasized getting more young people into work. He stated: "We will help more young people into work by changing the education system, giving them more support, more mental health support." This addresses the trend of young adults leaving education and going straight onto benefits, which ministers say is driving the PIP bill.
He added: "We will help people to live well, building a more preventative state, investing in people's success rather than paying for failure. And that work starts now."
Pledge to End Rough Sleeping
Beyond benefits, Burnham made a key pledge to end rough sleeping, though details were scarce. His speech aimed to reassure the public after a period of political instability, with six prime ministers in ten years.
