Prime Minister Burnham - Labour's last hope?
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This is a global production.
Is Burnham serious about the idea of doing government differently and rewiring the British state? Essentially, he's saying, I know we keep changing PM, but let's not do that anymore. Andy Burnham coming in and doing something very differently and a hell of a lot better.
What did Andy Burnham say in his first Downing Street speech and why does it matter?
Now, maybe we've just come to accept that things are meant to be crap. The question is, does Burnham have a different prescription?
It's about putting the right values and the right standards at the heart of government. I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do. I will give this my all and I ask you all to pull with me. Let's build a new national sense of unity, of common purpose and positivity. Let us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again, the moment we bring back hope. Thank you very much, everybody.
For great applause in Downing Street, Andy Burnham makes his first speech as Prime Minister. No notes, no lectern, communicating directly to the British people down a camera lens.
He's searching for that Obama vibe, isn't he? But what will the Burnham Premiership look like? What will it feel like? Is there anything that's really going to change? Is it more than just a different vibe? Welcome to the News Agents.
The News Agents.
It's John. It's Maitlis.
It's Lewis. And what a moment for Andy Burnham. That must have been. And his family, his mother was there. He revealed in an interview with The Times that his father couldn't be there because he's got Alzheimer's and isn't even aware. that his son is becoming prime minister. But for Andy Burnham personally, this was the culmination of really at least a kind of two decade ambition, wanting to clearly be prime minister when the last Labour government left office, running once in 2010 to be Labour leader, running twice in 2015 to be Labour leader, losing to Jeremy Corbyn. And now for a man, again, we should just take a step back and remember this, a man who was not even in parliament yet. Six weeks ago is now our 59th prime minister replacing Keir Starmer after a little more than two years.
As John said, it was a different tone from the beginning. There was no lectern. He spoke directly to camera and to the throng of people who were there. At the time of recording, he is appointing his cabinet. But he said that he already had plans to make policy announcements from the very beginning. He said he would be giving an instruction to abolish or to end rough sleeping from day one. Intriguingly, in this very studio, or studio in this building anyway, Jeremy Corbyn once told me on this show that that's exactly what he would have done if he had become Prime Minister's first instruction. He said he's going to set out measures from tomorrow to give people some, quote, breathing space with a cost of living.
He announced he would set out a 10-year plan for Britain later this year. And he said that he will give this my all. Before, as well, recognising, and I thought this was an interesting touch, which might not have necessarily expected him to acknowledge or make, but he recognised and spoke to the country in saying that, you know, this has happened a lot. One of the things that maybe makes this feel a little bit less remarkable than once it did is the fact we've had this churn of prime ministers, we've had this choreography change. so many times now over the last decade. And he is, depending on how you count it, the sixth or seventh prime minister over the last 10 years. Just listen to what he had to say about that very point.
I am acutely conscious that I am the sixth person in the last 10 years to walk up this street. The seventh prime minister since 2016. Making this a moment for reflection, and new resolution. It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game and rise to the new challenge.
It's a really interesting place to start by essentially saying my generation of politicians has let the country down. And then yes, Lewis, this acknowledgement that he makes, I think Burnham is quite good
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:02–0:19
2
What did Andy Burnham say in his first Downing Street speech and why does it matter?
0:19–12:49
3
Which immediate policy promises did Burnham make on homelessness and the cost of living?
12:49–17:15
4
How does Burnham try to address the UK’s recent churn of prime ministers?
17:15–36:59
5
Will Burnham pursue a radical change of direction or stick to the 2024 manifesto?
36:59–38:28