Andy Burnham is set to become the next Prime Minister, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer, and will address the nation on Monday with a focus on the cost of living crisis. Burnham took over as Labour Party leader on Friday after Starmer's resignation last month, triggered by humiliating local election results. Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election sealed Starmer's fate.
Starmer's Final Address and Resignation
On Monday, Sir Keir Starmer will deliver his last speech from Downing Street at around 11:15 am before visiting Buckingham Palace to formally resign to King Charles III. Following the audience with the monarch, Burnham, the former Greater Manchester Mayor, will be invited to form a new government. He is expected to arrive at Downing Street at approximately 12:40 pm and deliver his first speech as Prime Minister shortly after.
Burnham's Priorities: Cost of Living and Scrapping Digital ID
Burnham's immediate priorities include tackling the cost of living crisis. He has already broken from his predecessor by scrapping the controversial Digital ID policy. Reports suggest he will take steps to reduce energy bills and may target bus fares. Burnham is expected to say the country faces a moment for "reflection and resolution," having previously expressed willingness to spend political capital on fixing major problems like social care that require extra funding.
Burnham will also acknowledge being "acutely conscious" of being the sixth person to walk up Downing Street in 10 years, and aims to give people "more breathing room" regarding the cost of living.
A 10-Year Plan for the Country
Burnham has vowed to outline a 10-year plan for the country, focusing on "early investment" to ensure the British state "sets people up for success" rather than paying for failure. In an interview with The Times, he said: "You have to rethink how we run things to get a different approach to public spending and running the economy which is much more focused on early investment, early intervention, setting people up for success and much less paying for failure."
He added: "A concept I will talk about tomorrow is a 10-year plan for the country. I think that's what it needs. I'm not saying that means I'm setting out to say I'm going to be here for 10 years, it's more that we're not in the right place structurally. You go round large parts of Britain and they're in decline still. The path we've got to lay is quite a long one. It can't be done overnight. You've got to show people where we're going and the steps towards it."
