Play store
Andy Burnham says he is putting the finishing touches to his cabinet ahead of becoming the United Kingdom’s prime minister on Monday, promising a government focused on regional empowerment, social care reform and party unity.
Speaking after winning the Labour leadership, Burnham said he had not yet finalised his ministerial appointments and would announce his cabinet only after formally taking office.
“It would be somewhat premature and would, I think, cause complete chaos if you start half a reshuffle before you’re in the position,” he told reporters.
Burnham will officially succeed Sir Keir Starmer on Monday after an audience with King Charles III.
Speculation continues over key cabinet positions, with Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood reportedly among those being considered to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor.
Addressing supporters at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) headquarters in London, Burnham pledged to form a cabinet representing “all parts of our party” and “all communities”.
He vowed to restore hope to working-class communities, accelerate the devolution of powers from Westminster to England’s regions and pursue what he described as the country’s biggest political and economic transformation in decades.
Rejecting what he called the “neoliberal” approach of the past 40 years, including policies pursued while he served in previous Labour governments, Burnham promised to reindustrialise Britain and foster a more united Labour Party.
“We won’t beat Britain’s new right if we are consumed by infighting and pulling in different directions,” he said, adding that his government would focus on “problem-solving rather than point-scoring”.
Although his speech contained few detailed policy announcements, Burnham identified reforming England’s social care system as one of his top priorities. He said he was prepared to spend significant political capital on overhauling a sector he described as neglected for many years.
Social care in England is means-tested, unlike the National Health Service, and many people face substantial personal costs for long-term care.
Drawing on personal experience, Burnham said his father’s Alzheimer’s disease had reinforced his determination to reform the system.
“My dad has Alzheimer’s, and you see what the staff have to put up with. The system’s broken,” he said, arguing that successive governments had failed to tackle the issue.
Burnham, who served as health secretary under former prime minister Gordon Brown, has long advocated creating a National Care Service that would be free at the point of use. The leadership change has drawn mixed political reactions.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage argued that Burnham was assuming office without a public mandate and called for an immediate general election.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed Burnham’s pledge to pursue a more collaborative style of politics, saying his party would seek cooperation on reforming the water industry, strengthening the NHS and improving support for family carers.
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake urged Burnham to recall Parliament, which is in summer recess until September, so he could present his programme to MPs.
Meanwhile, Linda Hobson of the trade union Unison said Burnham must “get this right and bring back the hope he promises”.
Burnham secured the Labour leadership after receiving nominations from 379 Labour MPs and all 11 affiliated trade unions. His victory marks a rapid political comeback after returning to Parliament through a by-election in Makerfield last month.
He succeeds Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned as Labour leader following mounting pressure after Labour’s poor local election results. In his victory speech, Burnham paid tribute to Starmer’s achievements, including expanding workers’ and renters’ rights, reducing NHS waiting lists and returning rail services to public ownership. Source: BBC News
