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New U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first week in office signalled a shift in focus and style for the centre-left Labour government as he sought a clean break from predecessor Keir Starmer.
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Cost of living
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Burnham, 56, announced three feel-good measures designed to offer Britons and businesses some early modest help with high living costs, which he has made the focus of his nascent administration.
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He unveiled the removal of a tax on household electricity bills, a planned cap on most bus fares in England and a 20 percent reduction in business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues.
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In contrast, one of Starmer’s first moves in power two years ago was to cut winter fuel payments for millions of elderly people — a mistake he was forced to reverse and struggled to recover from.
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Burnham’s early sweeteners are raising questions about whether he shares Starmer’s commitment to fiscal discipline, although he insists they represent a “re-prioritization” of spending.
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The U.S.-Iran conflict, which has sent energy prices soaring, and other geopolitical crises outside of Burnham’s control could impact his ability to drive his cost-of-living agenda.
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He will also have to confront international affairs sooner or later, but is expected to travel less than Starmer, who worked hard to restore Britain’s credibility overseas but was branded “never here Keir” by opponents.
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“It’s good to see the Burnham government get itself on the front foot politically, but you can see that there are a lot of storm clouds on the horizon,” said Patrick Diamond, an advisor to previous Labour governments.
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Casual vibes
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After arriving in Downing Street on Monday, Burnham delivered a speech without notes and without the traditional lecturn, symbolizing the more relaxed image he cultivated over nine years as Manchester mayor.
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That said, he did swap his trademark dark T-Shirt and jacket for a suit and tie, although he has maintained his regular output of casual, selfie-led videos on his social media channels.
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During his inaugural speech, Burnham emphasized his desire to “bring back hope,” contrasting with the Starmer government’s repeated warnings about the “tough choices” required following 14 years of Conservative rule.
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“That didn’t work as a narrative because it was too pessimistic,” Diamond told AFP.
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“What Burnham’s doing is really very different because he’s trying to underline that things can be better, and government can still make a difference.”
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On Friday, Burnham opened his new No. 10 North office in Manchester, where he intends to work at least once a week as part of his drive to increase devolution in England.
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Addressing staff, he said it would be the “nerve centre for a rewired Britain” and not a “short-lived gimmick.”
