Andy Burnham’s 7 biggest promises as major speech reveals what he’ll do as PM
Andy Burnham’s 7 biggest promises as major speech reveals what he’ll do as Prime Minister
Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham has revealed what he will do when he takes over
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Add us as preferred source Comments By Jonathan Walker, Whitehall Editor 12:51, Mon, Jun 29, 2026 Updated: 14:30, Mon, Jun 29, 2026 Andy Burnham declares Westminster 'broken' in speech
Andy Burnham has just delivered a speech in Manchester where he set out his plans for Government, if he becomes Prime Minister. It looks almost certain that Mr Burnham will replace Sir Keir Starmer in 10 Downing Street. Today, he revealed his top priorities once he takes over.
They include:
More council housing
Mr Burnham promised the biggest council house building programme since the post-war period. He said: “We will use public land, vacant public land, to reduce costs.”
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Public control of water and energy
Giving local or regional leaders, such as mayors, “public control of essential services like water, housing, energy, and transport”.
More power to the North
A “Number 10 North” will be set up so that fewer decisions are made in the traditional Number 10 - in Downing Street, London.
Mr Burnham said: “No 10 North will be the nerve centre of a rewired Britain.
“It will be the conduit through which we redistribute power and resources across the UK.”
He said Whitehall would be forced to give up power to places across the country.
“Let me say this very directly: the days of Whitehall fighting the devolution of power into the regions and nations are over for good.”
Controlling borrowing
Andy Burnham pledged to give Britain “breathing space” against rising costs “as soon as I can” while not “taking risks with the public finances”.
While he did not directly say he would keep borrowing down, this is what he means by not “taking risks with the public finances”, as borrowing too much would increase the interest the Treasury has to pay.
And he promised “the stability that comes from sound public finances” and “the discipline of our current fiscal rules”.
Buying British
Public services and organisations will be expected to back British firms as they spend billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money.
Mr Burnham said: “Every pound raised from taxpayers will work harder for them, and that approach will apply fully to the defence investment plan.
“We will make sure that all eligible public contracts are subject to proper social value weighting and we will do that to make sure British-based companies are in a better position to win those contracts.”
Economic growth across the country
Mr Burnham promised “a more streamlined state with a clearer purpose to power up all parts of the country and put a laser-like focus on growth and regeneration, good growth.”
Getting young people into work or education
Andy Burnham highlighted high levels of unemployment among 16-to-24-year-olds and said he will bring to an end “the days of a school system configured entirely around the university route”.
He said: “The days of a school system configured entirely around the university route will be brought to an end.
“University is great for those who want it, but when are we going to focus on the life chances of those kids who want something different? The country hasn’t done that for a long, long time.
“People have argued over many years for an education system based on parity between academic and technical, and that is what we will build, giving every young person growing up here a clear path into a reindustrialised Britain.”
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
