Andy Burnham will pledge to restore confidence in government and say Britain must be honest about the challenges it faces when he becomes prime minister on Monday.
The Labour leader is expected to start appointing his cabinet on Monday afternoon after a visit to Buckingham Palace to accept the role of prime minister from the King.
Sir Keir Starmer will give a final statement in Downing Street at around 11.15am before his visit to the palace. Mr Burnham is expected to arrive outside Number 10 just before 1pm, where he will address the nation.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester is expected to launch a policy blitz this week, including scrapping Sir Keir’s controversial digital ID scheme and reportedly opening the door to more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
US president Donald Trump reacted to reports of North Sea expansion over the weekend, saying that Mr Burnham will open oil fields “all the way”. He added: “The people of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets”.
Andy Burnham: ‘We’re not in the right place as a country’
Andy Burnham has told The Times that “we’re not in the right place as a country” ahead of becoming prime minister on Monday.
Referring to his pledge that he will set out a ten-year plan for the country, Mr Burnham said: “I’m not saying that means I’m setting out to say I’m going to be here for ten years… it’s more that we’re not in the right place structurally, we’re not in the right place as a country. I think people can feel that.”
He added: “To be clear to people, it can’t be done overnight. But you’ve got to show people where we’re going, and then the steps towards it. And that’s what I’m going to try to do.”
Speaking about his approach to the economy, Mr Burnham said: “I think you have to rethink how we run things to get a different approach to public spending, and to running the economy – more focused on early investment, early intervention, setting people up for success, and much less paying for failure.”
Referring to his plans to scrap Sir Keir Starmer’s digital ID scheme, Mr Burnham added: “That’s an example of what’s to come, freeing up resource for something that, in my view, wouldn’t make a tangible difference to people’s lives anytime soon. And even if it did, it wouldn’t necessarily make life easier, it might do in the long run.”
Holly Bancroft19 July 2026 23:15
Recap: Trump weighs in on North Sea oil and gas row hours before Burnham becomes PM
Donald Trump weighed in on rumoured plans for controversial new drilling in the North Sea on Sunday, claiming Andy Burnham will open oil fields “all the way”, writes political correspondent Millie Cooke.
In an intervention hours before the new prime minister enters Downing Street, the US president – a vocal supporter of fossil fuels, who has repeatedly dismissed the scientifically backed evidence behind the climate crisis – said the move would prevent Britain from becoming a “poverty stricken disaster”.
Mr Burnham previously insisted he would stick to Labour’s manifesto pledge not to issue new North Sea licences. But he has also refused to deny reports that he is considering approving new production.
On his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said: “The People of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets because the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has stated that he will be opening up, all the way, the invaluable North Sea Oil!”
The comments mark the start of a potentially turbulent relationship with Britain’s fifth prime minister in four years.
Trump weighs in on North Sea oil drilling row hours before Burnham becomes PM
President says expected announcement on new drilling will stop Britain becoming ‘poverty stricken disaster’ Holly Bancroft19 July 2026 22:03
Shabana Mahmood’s history on tax and welfare sparks tensions with Andy Burnham allies
The frontrunner to be named as Andy Burnham’s chancellor is already causing tensions with his supporters on the left because of her past support for tax and welfare cuts, writes Political Editor David Maddox.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood is now widely expected to be named as Mr Burnham’s chancellor on Monday over the soft left’s choice Ed Miliband.
But the MPs on the left of the party who were the biggest cheerleaders for Mr Burnham being parachuted into parliament to replace Sir Keir Starmer are now concerned he is picking someone from the right of the party to oversee economic policy.
Party insiders have noted that Ms Mahmood was a major internal critic over Rachel Reeves’s tax hikes, which sources claim she privately branded “ridiculous”, “anti-aspiration” and “anti-competitive”.
Shabana Mahmood’s history on tax and welfare sparks tensions with Andy Burnham allies
Exclusive: Shabana Mahmood is now expected to be unveiled as chancellor, but criticisms she made behind the scenes of Rachel Reeves’s tax policies have already sparked tensions with Burnham’s allies on the leftHolly Bancroft19 July 2026 22:01
Burnham to stress the need for more stable politics in first speech as PM
Andy Burnham will pledge to restore confidence in government and give people “breathing room” when he becomes prime minister later today.
The new Labour leader will set out his domestic priorities in his first speech from Downing Street after visiting the Palace to “kiss hands” with the King and formally take over from Sir Keir Starmer.
He is expected to characterise the moment as one of “reflection and resolution”, arguing Britain must be honest about the challenges it faces and demonstrate it can solve them.
And he will say he is “acutely conscious” that the UK has had seven prime ministers over the last 10 years, and stress the need for more stable and responsible politics.
Allies of Mr Burnham said he would argue that political stability must deliver “tangible” improvements along with the “breathing room” on the cost of living he has previously promised.
Having come to the Labour leadership without a contest barely a month after returning to Westminster, Mr Burnham is yet to set out much of his agenda for his premiership.
He has already said he wants to devolve power away from Westminster as one of his key priorities, driving that agenda with a new “No 10 North” in Manchester, which he is expected to visit later in the week.
Promising a “reset of priorities”, Mr Burnham has also announced he will scrap Sir Keir’s flagship digital ID programme in order to focus money and attention on the cost of living.
Holly Bancroft19 July 2026 22:00
Andy Burnham becomes prime minister: Timings expected on Monday
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to make a final statement on his tenure as prime minister in Downing Street on Monday before he heads to Buckingham Palace to step down.
This is expected at around 11:15am on Monday morning. Andy Burnham will then meet with King Charles to accept the role of prime minister and head to number 10, where he will give his first speech as Labour leader at just before 1pm.
Holly Bancroft19 July 2026 21:58