Andy Burnham becomes Britain’s new prime minister – The Latest
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This is The Guardian.
He's just in front of these two microphones and wow, straight into it. Really looking like he was enjoying himself.
We will make this moment a circuit breaker for Britain. bringing forward the biggest changes in the last 40 years.
There's like a static electricity in the air at these events.
What happened at Downing Street during the transfer of power to Andy Burnham?
And Starmer just stood there. He looked statesmanlike, as he often does. But he did not really look emotional. He looked like someone who wanted to get it over and done with.
I go with good grace. I go with a smile and I go proud of everything that we have achieved.
From The Guardian's Today In Focus, this is The Latest with me, Lucy Hough. Well, it's been a huge political day already with the transfer of power from former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer handing over to Andy Burnham. Alexandra Topping, our political correspondent, you were there at Downing Street to see this sort of transfer take place.
How did Andy Burnham present himself in his first speech outside Downing Street?
What was the vibe like? And let's talk about Andy Burnham's speech, first of all.
I mean, it's an extraordinary scene being outside Downing Street at one of these moments. It really, you know, you are seeing history happen and it happens really quickly. So, you know, we had the guests coming in for Keir Starmer and then kind of before you know it, Andy Burnham was back from seeing the King and he was getting all the applause and the hugs and the adoration from the crowds who were there. It was kind of crazy.
And what was so striking is that he wasn't using the lectern, which almost all of his predecessors have used. There was this sort of Burnham style informality already.
He was wearing a suit, though.
He was wearing a suit.
That was a departure. No, it was really interesting, actually, because there was a very different vibe. You know, you have the kind of very formal, quite static Starmer in front of his podium. And then podium guy who, for those who are interested, there's a whole space on the internet dedicated to podium guy. But Burnham arrived. He had a lot of love given to him. You know, he spent a long time hugging and shaking hands with people. And then he went to speak and the applause continued. He's just in front of these two microphones and he wham, straight into it, looking at the camera, speaking without notes, looking very relaxed, you know, serious, quite solemn. But, you know, really looking like he was enjoying himself.
Yeah. So there were a few things that he spoke about that sort of expanded from the policy speech he gave a couple of weeks ago, which was about sort of his version of Manchesterism, about devolution, about local government. But today he spoke about homelessness. He spoke about housing and he spoke about a 10 year plan. There's been some criticism. We've heard that one before. But, you know, I think there's been some criticism in the sort of hours after the speech that there was still not quite enough detail that some people were hoping for. He says there will be more detail on cost of living tomorrow. But how would you break down what he spoke about in terms of those specifics?
I don't think there was a huge departure from what we already heard from his main speech when he accepted the Labour leadership on Friday. There was a reprise of the idea that Great Britain gave up a lot of control during the Thatcher years and he wants to push for renationalisation. But linking that with the cost of living crisis right now and saying part of the reason that we're in this crisis is because we've lost this control is So that we've heard before. The pledge to end street homelessness is new. He did pledge that as the mayor of Greater Manchester. He failed, interestingly. So it's quite bold that he would pledge that again. But homelessness really genuinely is something that's really personally very important to Andy Burnham.
You know, as mayor of Manchester, he gave 15% of his wages to ending homelessness schemes. So that was a big one. And I think there's also, you know, this idea that he and his team have recognised that, OK, we've got to have a long term plan because we have to fix big structural problems with the country.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:29
2
What happened at Downing Street during the transfer of power to Andy Burnham?
0:29–1:14
3
How did Andy Burnham present himself in his first speech outside Downing Street?
1:14–4:51
4
What policy themes did Burnham highlight as a ‘circuit breaker’ for Britain?
4:51–7:32
5
What new commitments did Burnham make on homelessness and housing?
7:32–9:23
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from Today in Focus
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