Andy Burnham latest: New PM vows ‘circuit-breaker’ for UK and pledges ‘biggest changes in 40 years’

Andy Burnham said his government would serve as a “circuit breaker” for Britain.

The new prime minister said he would bring “life’s essentials back under stronger public control” to make them more affordable for the public.

He said: “I know people at home are fed up with politics. I hear you and I want to be honest with you. We have not been good enough, and we need to be better. We will be.

“We will make this moment a circuit breaker for Britain, bringing forward the biggest changes in the last 40 years. A new political model and a new economic model.”

Mr Burnham hit out at the legacy of Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government on the UK.

He said: “In the 1980s Britain took some wrong turns. Political power was centralised, economic power privatised, large parts of the country deindustrialised, and they still haven’t recovered. Many feel as though they’re still in decline and they don’t have the ability to turn things around.

“And that’s why we will change politics, to make it more collaborative, more about problem solving than point scoring, and will take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land, so that they can do more, and in doing more, build a new economy where we put life’s essentials back under stronger public control to make them affordable to you again, reindustrialising Britain using public procurement to back British industry.”

It’s clear that Andy Burnham is trying to mark a clear change with Starmer. Speaking without a lectern, he is demonstrating that he is a more relaxed and personable politician.

His casual delivery, without notes or an autocue, was a marked difference from his predecessor.

And in the contents of his speech was a clear intention to show he is already getting on with delivery. End rough sleeping now. Cut the welfare bill to boost defence. More support for teens in school.

All of it was a clear sign to voters that he is not complacent, and he won’t make the same mistakes as Starmer.

He’s not yet walked through the door of No 10, but Andy Burnham has just made his first major policy pledge as Britain’s new prime minister.

The former mayor vowed to end homelessness as he delivered his first speech as prime minister on Downing Street.

“I will soon go through that door behind me and issue my first instruction – to end rough sleeping in our country,” he said.

“It’s about putting the right values and the right standards at the heart of government. I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do. I will give this my all and I ask you all to pull with me.”

He said he would also set out measures to give Britons “more breathing space” tomorrow, and that a ten year plan for the country would follow later this year.

Andy Burnham’s initial speech outside Downing Street reflects on the fact that he is the seventh prime minister in the UK since 2016.

“My generation has to raise its game,” he said. And insisted that his premiership will be “a circuit breaker” in the chaos and problems which have bedevilled British politics.

It is clear that despite not really outlining details of a plan he intends to make his agenda for government clear in the coming days.

That will begin with the appointment of his cabinet later today.

He announced that his “first instruction will be to end rough sleeping in our country.”

It is symbolic of a man whose analysis of the current situation is that the country has accepted problems for far too long.

He wants Britain “to start to believe again” and to “bring back hope”.

It is a bold statement from a man who less than a month ago was not even in parliament and has taken power in the most extraordinary way.

But as he warned his party on Friday, “this is Labour’s last chance” to get things right.

Andy Burnham announced he would work to end rough sleeping.

As mayor of Greater Manchester, he donated 15 per cent of his salary to local homelessness initiatives.

Andy Burnham has pledged his premiership will be a “circuit breaker” moment in British politics, as he admitted politicians have “not been good enough” in recent years.

The new prime minister, who is delivering his first speech in Downing Street without the conventional lectern, shook hands with friends, family and supporters and was met with rapturous applause as walked towards No 10.

Saying he had accepted the King’s invitation to form a government, he said: “In doing so I am acutely conscious that I am the sixth person in the last 10 years to walk up this street. The seventh prime minister since 2016, making this a moment for reflection and new resolution.

“It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game and rise to the challenge.”

“I know people at home are fed ups with politics. I hear you and I need to be honest – we have not been good enough,” he added.

“We will make this moment a circuit breaker for Britain.”

Andy Burnham said this is “a moment for reflection and new resolution” and Britain must “regain our stability once again” as he addressed the nation for the first time as prime minister.

Andy Burnham was greeted by long-term friend and ally Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region mayor, as he walked up Downing Street.

Also in the crowd was the former Makerfield MP Josh Simons, who stood down from Parliament to allow Mr Burnham to return as an MP and challenge Sir Keir Starmer.

Andy Burnham has an almost celeb-like energy as he walked up Downing Street saying hello to a cheering crowd. He took his time to chat to his supporters as he walked up the street to an extended applause, demonstrating an ease with attention that Sir Keir Starmer lacked.

He has now begun addressing the nation after taking over as prime minister. Speaking without a lectern, the new PM looks relaxed as he takes over the biggest job of his lifetime.