Andy Burnham, 56, the new leader of Britain's governing Labour Party who is set to take office as prime minister after a rapid rise following his entry into Parliament, is expected to deliver a message to the public in his inaugural address that he will create "more breathing room."
On the 20th, Britain's BBC reported that Burnham would become the United Kingdom's 59th prime minister after an audience with King Charles III that day.
According to the BBC, Burnham is expected to emphasize in his first speech that he is more aware than anyone of the reality that prime ministers have frequently changed in Britain, stressing that "going forward, politics must be run more stably and responsibly." With British politics in disarray — Burnham being the sixth prime minister newly appointed over the past decade — he put forward a call for the restoration of weighty, substantive politics.
Burnham is also expected to describe the current period as "a time for reflection and resolve," saying that Britain must honestly acknowledge the difficulties it faces. Through the phrase "give people breathing room," he appears set to stress the message that the quality of life of British citizens facing economic hardship must be improved. In his Labour leadership acceptance speech on the 18th, Burnham also pledged to create "the biggest moment of political change in 40 years." Although known for his progressive leanings, he has also declared that he will build a business-friendly government.
Burnham's side also revealed some of the major policies he will push immediately after taking office. The Burnham cabinet is expected to pursue policies including North Sea oil and gas drilling, expanded public ownership of water and energy companies, and expanded construction of local government public housing. It plans to scrap the plan to introduce government digital identity cards for British adults. Burnham had earlier mentioned decentralization, including a plan to establish a second prime minister's office in Manchester.
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In particular, in connection with the Iran war, attention is focused on whether the Burnham cabinet will expand North Sea oil and gas field drilling. The Telegraph reported that the Burnham cabinet appears likely to maintain existing projects while not issuing new permits. Labour had earlier declared, as a 2024 general election pledge, a ban on issuing new North Sea oil drilling licenses. The Burnham cabinet has partly continued this stance while leaving open the option of using oil and gas extraction rights that have been approved for drilling but not developed.
In particular, the Rosebank oil field — Britain's largest undeveloped oil field, located about 130 kilometers west of the Shetland Islands in the North Sea — and the Jackdaw gas field are being mentioned. Regulators approved their drilling, but the approvals are set to be reconsidered following lawsuits by environmental groups.
According to the Telegraph, even during the previous Starmer cabinet, the Treasury judged that North Sea oil drilling could secure enough tax revenue to cover a significant portion of the 18 billion pounds the Ministry of Defence had requested to fund military programs. However, Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and a staunch advocate of renewable energy, exercised a "veto."
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his expectations on Truth Social that day, saying, "Citizens of Aberdeen, Scotland (the center of North Sea oil), are dancing in the streets because newly appointed Prime Minister Burnham announced he would fully open up development of precious North Sea oil!" Trump, who favors fossil fuels, has expressed dissatisfaction with the British Labour government's expansion of renewable energy policies.
Burnham took office as party leader at a Labour special conference on the 17th, taking on the role of new prime minister of Britain, a parliamentary system country. Burnham, who served as Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 and was called the "King of the North," entered Parliament after winning a by-election in the Makerfield constituency on the 18th of last month. Just a month later, he has taken on the role of new prime minister in a rapid ascent.
Britain can appoint a new prime minister by changing the leader of the majority party in Parliament even without a general election. The Labour government came to power in the July 2024 general election. He is the fourth new Labour prime minister of the 21st century, following Tony Blair (1997–2007), Gordon Brown (2007–2010), and Starmer. King Charles III will welcome his fourth prime minister since his accession.
In principle, the prime minister changes when Prime Minister Keir Starmer expresses his resignation to the King, and King Charles III asks Burnham to form a government. The new Prime Minister Burnham will then deliver his inaugural address in front of the prime minister's office at 10 Downing Street in London at midday that day.
Meanwhile, the opposition voiced caution over Burnham's rapid ascent to the premiership. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, in a letter released that day, pointed out, "He has taken on the premiership without a clear plan." She added, "He refused calls to answer questions in Parliament and has not undergone sufficient media scrutiny. It is hard to see this as a good start."
