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After being elected leader of the Labour Party, Andy Burnham declared that he is ready to "defeat the British new right" with a new and unifying approach. The former mayor of Greater Manchester is expected to take office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Monday, succeeding Keir Starmer.
Burnham secured the overwhelming support of MPs, unions and branches of the Labour Party, being the only candidate to take its leadership after Starmer.
At the special Labour conference, held on Friday at the headquarters of the Trades Union Congress in London, he was officially declared leader by Shabana Mahmood, who is considered the favorite for the post of Finance Minister in the next government and who also heads the party's executive body.
Speaking to Labour Party leaders and supporters, Burnham said Britain was "desperately seeking a new politics". He warned that this was the "last chance" for Labour to bring about change, stressing that this could only be achieved through unity.
"This is a proud moment for me and my family, but also very exciting. I am ready for this responsibility, ready to lead and build on the foundations that Keir Starmer has laid more than anyone else. Under his leadership we went from the heaviest defeat to one of the greatest victories in history," Burnham said.
He added that the Labor Party is now united and that this strength must be put at the service of citizens and communities who have long been waiting for a policy that restores hope.
Although he praised his predecessor's work, Burnham said it's time to open a new chapter.
"I will work tirelessly to build the culture of a single Labour team, because change starts with us. We cannot defeat the British new right if we consume our energies on division and pulling each other in different directions," he declared.
The new leader has not yet made public a detailed governing platform, but said his priorities will be decentralizing power to communities, supporting business, and building more social and public housing.
Burnham is expected to officially take office as prime minister on Monday, after Keir Starmer holds the handover ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Afterwards, he will deliver his first speech in front of Downing Street and is expected to announce the new government cabinet in the afternoon, although he stated that he has not yet decided on all the names of his team.
Burnham said he aimed to give Labour a new political direction, while also seeking cooperation with other parties. He rejected the idea of emulating the Conservatives, competing with Reform UK on its own turf or trying to be "greener than the Greens".
"I want citizens to understand the logic behind the political direction I will follow," he said, arguing that too much power has been concentrated in Westminster or delegated to private companies.
Responding to criticism that he has been focused mainly on the north of England due to his role as mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham stressed that he will be prime minister for the whole of the United Kingdom.
"This is the moment to speak on behalf of every part of the country and to unite people around a common cause. I love every corner of this country, every accent, every tradition and even some of the football clubs. But I believe that they can all achieve more ," he said.
At the end of his speech, Burnham promised to "return power from Westminster and Whitehall to the communities where citizens live," while expressing gratitude to Labour figures David Blunkett and Neil Kinnock, who, according to him, have influenced his political journey.
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