Andy Burnham confirmed as Labour leader before UK prime minister handover

Andy Burnham has been confirmed as leader of Britain’s governing Labour Party, clearing the way for him to become prime minister within days. Al Jazeera, AFP and Reuters reported that the left-leaning former Manchester mayor will replace outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday.

Burnham used his first speech as Labour leader on Friday to promise a reset for the party and the country. Speaking at a special Labour conference in central London, he said his government would try to restore confidence in politics and respond to voters in places he described as having been overlooked.

“We are united, and we put the power that comes from that unity at the service of people and places who have been waiting too long for politics to let them hope again,” Burnham told Labour MPs and party officials, according to AFP. “And that’s what we’re going to do, everybody, we’re going to give them hope back.”

Burnham also paid tribute to Starmer, whose time in office is ending two years after Labour won a landslide general election, Al Jazeera reported. Starmer’s standing fell during a difficult period marked by wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, a continuing cost of living crisis and rising support for Reform UK and other far-right populist parties in polling, according to Al Jazeera.

Reform challenge high on agenda

Burnham put the threat from Reform UK near the centre of his message. He said Labour should not try to imitate rival parties or borrow Conservative positions, according to AFP.

“We won’t try to out-Green the Greens or out-Reform Reform or do what we’ve done in the past, wearing too many Tory clothes,” Burnham said. “From here we do it differently. We win by being us boldly, confidently, authentically us – Labour.”

Al Jazeera reported that Burnham has promised to unite the country and fight the challenge from Reform UK. His comments also signalled an attempt to steady Labour after the internal divisions that followed Starmer’s departure.

Burnham said he would form what he called a “broad church” cabinet and build a team in which Labour’s different wings are represented. He told colleagues his front bench choices would reflect “contribution, experience and commitment,” according to Al Jazeera, AFP and Reuters.

Cost of living and local power

Burnham said the cost of living crisis would sit at the centre of his government’s work. He argued that Britain had given up too much control over key areas including housing, energy and water, while also presenting himself as a “pro-business” incoming prime minister, Al Jazeera reported.

Drawing on his record in Greater Manchester, where Al Jazeera said he pushed back against centralised control while building more integrated transport and housing systems, Burnham pledged to shift authority away from Westminster and Whitehall.

“We will take power back from Westminster and Whitehall and give it to the place where you live,” he said.

The formal transfer of power is expected Monday, when Burnham is due to take over from Starmer as Britain’s next prime minister.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.