By Elizabeth Piper
LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) – Andy Burnham becomes Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade on Monday, promising to “rewire” the nation to focus more clearly on issues people care about, such as a cost-of-living crisis and poorly performing services.
After Keir Starmer makes his farewell speech outside 10 Downing Street and formally tenders his resignation to King Charles, the monarch will receive Burnham to ask him to be prime minister.
Then the hard work begins for the 56-year-old who, as mayor of Greater Manchester, earned the nickname ‘King of the North’.
Once he has unveiled his cabinet – already the subject of much debate in the ruling Labour Party – he will have a long list of problems ranging from underperforming utility firms to anaemic economic growth.
BURNHAM TO LAY OUT NEW GOVERNMENT PATH
Burnham will use his first speech to set out a path for “a more stable and responsible politics”, his office said in a statement.
Presenting his appointment as a moment of “reflection”, he will say it is time to be honest about Britain’s challenges, and that only political stability can deliver improvements.
On Friday, Burnham described his election to become Labour leader as “the most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years”.
He promised to radically change the political system to quickly raise living standards and help a country hungry for change become one where “life is more affordable and all people and places are lifted from where they are now”.
He directed that message at Labour lawmakers, who see him as one of the few politicians capable of tackling the threat from veteran Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK – something they doubted the unpopular Starmer could do.
Burnham’s first challenge will be the appointment of his cabinet team and especially his finance minister. Friction in this crucial partnership at the heart of government has led to the downfall of previous administrations.
An early frontrunner for the position, energy security and net zero minister Ed Miliband, has been the object of some hostile briefing and interior minister Shabana Mahmood now appears to be favourite for the job.
Burnham urged his party on Friday to ignore “speculation” and said he had not yet decided on his team.
His early policy decisions will also face scrutiny.
On Sunday, plans were scrapped for all employees to be required to hold a digital identity document, a scheme designed to tackle illegal migration but deemed a “fiasco” by a cross-party committee of lawmakers.
More attention will be paid to decisions on taxation and spending, oil and gas, and underperforming utility companies, for which Burnham wants stronger public control.
Thames Water, Britain’s largest water company, is weighed down by debt and under fire for frequent sewage leaks.
On Sunday, Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell, Burnham’s ally, suggested Thames Water could be brought under “special measures”, meaning it would operate under government control.
“He wants to refocus and reprioritise the government’s resources, the government’s attention onto his priorities of tackling the cost of living, really rewiring the way the country, the economy works,” she told Sky News.
(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
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