ANDY Burnham has secured the job of Prime Minister — without either a General Election or a proper Labour Party contest.
Despite having no personal mandate, he pledged “the most significant change” in politics in the past 40 years — turning the clock back to the 1970s — and used his speech to trash Margaret Thatcher.
The former Greater Manchester Mayor will enter Downing Street on Monday but has yet to set out a plan for running the country.
Not a single Labour MP stood against him after Sir Keir Starmer was forced out in a coup.
True blue Everton fan Burnham insists he will keep his season ticket as PM — but will lead a left-wing government firmly for the reds.
His vision includes the public ownership of industry, mass council house building, and even bringing back booze in the stands at football.
Speaking at the Trades Union Congress in London — before then dashing to Gravesend, Kent, where he attended an event at the town’s pier — Mr Burnham said: “I am clear: Britain took a series of wrong turns in the 1980s.
“Political power was centralised and economic power privatised.
“The country surrendered control of the essentials — housing, water, energy, transport — and left people exposed to higher costs.
“That, in turn, led to the concentration of more wealth and power in the hands of fewer people and fewer places.”
The incoming PM, who will formally enter No10 on Monday, insisted “I have a plan” for Government, but was criticised for failing to spell out concrete policies.
But he dismissed growing criticism that he has not set out a serious blueprint for Britain.
As he assumed the party’s leadership from Sir Keir Starmer, he said he was “ready” for the top job and would “do politics differently”.
Last night there were already signs of a “Burnham Bounce” as Labour tied level with Reform UK in one opinion poll.
The former Greater Manchester mayor declined to give any concrete examples of what he would do differently to the outgoing PM, who he felled in a lightning coup.
He burnished his left-wing credentials with a full-frontal attack on Thatcherism while insisting he would be “pro-business”.
He made vague promises to stop party infighting, “do politics differently”, being a leader “for the whole of the UK” and redistributing “power across the country”.
Mr Burnham said: “I have a plan. And what I also want you to know is that I won’t change. I have a style, it’s my style.
“I will always stay close to the ground, close to the people, hopefully still with my season ticket when the new season starts.”
His university sweetheart wife Marie-France van Heel watched on as he gave his victory address after being elected as leader unopposed.
After his speech, Mr Burnham hugged former Labour leader Lord Kinnock, who he credits for getting him into politics.
Mr Burnham returned to Parliament as the MP for Makerfield a month ago today.
His comeback after nine years outside Westminster led to embattled Sir Keir’s resignation and Mr Burnham’s “coronation” with 379 MPs nominating him for leader.
The speed of his ascendancy has drawn criticism including from his own MPs that he has not had the time to flesh out a proper plan.
Sir Keir’s first 100 days are widely regarded as terrible after it emerged he had no proper agenda to hit the ground running.
Labour MP Graham Stringer, one of the few not to nominate Mr Burnham, said: “Andy hasn’t told us what he is going to do.
WHAT BURNHAM MAY DO
By Ryan Sabey
ANDY Burnham promised he has a plan to fix Britain — mostly by taking it back to the pre-Margaret Thatcher 1970s.
The PM-in-waiting hasn’t set out much detail yet, and prefers TikTok videos to answering questions from journalists, but Deputy Political Editor Ryan Sabey looks at what might be on the cards.
HIGHER TAXES
A shake-up of property levies could see a ‘land tax’ replacing stamp duty, clobbering homeowners in the South. More taxes on wealth could help pay for the ballooning welfare bill.
NATIONALISATION
Work is said to be under way to take public control of Thames Water. He has bemoaned Britain losing control of housing, water, energy and transport to the private sector.
SOCIAL CARE
Burnham wants to find a sustainable way to pay for care of the elderly and will “expend quite a lot of political capital” on it. The cost to the Government’s finances will also be hefty.
NUMBER 10 NORTH
A new nerve centre of British power will be established in Manchester with Burnham saying it will oversee a huge rebalance of power away from the traditional capital.
RULES ON SETTLEMENT
Could appease Labour Left by watering down plans to double the time majority of migrants have to wait before becoming eligible for the right to remain in the UK.
ISRAEL & GAZA
Harder line on Israel which could include further sanctions against Jewish settlers. Said Britain was “too slow” to call for a ceasefire in
the wake of Israel’s response to October 7.
LEVY ON HOLIDAYS
Regional mayors will get powers to impose a ‘tourist tax’. Burnham said that it was “a measure we have long called for” to invest in growth. Kemi Badenoch says Tory mayors won’t use it.
NORTH SEA
Civil Service has been tasked with coming up with plans for drilling in the Jackdaw gas field and Rosebank oil field. There may also be “tie-backs” approved next to existing North Sea oil and gas fields.
MORE COUNCIL HOUSES
Wants a massive programme to replace social housing. Allowing familes to buy their own council houses was a huge success under Thatcher — but many in Labour hate it.
DRINKING IN STANDS
Football supporters could be celebrating their team’s goal with a pint in the stands, with a review to look at ripping up the ban introduced to quell violence between fans in the 1980s.
“He has not explained any plan or any details about immigration, the economy, energy. A whole series of major policies are still a mystery in terms of what he will do.
“Effectively nominating him would’ve been giving a blank cheque. He owes it to the parliamentary Labour Party and the country to be more explicit.”
Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake added: “Andy Burnham says he has a plan, so what is it? The leader of the Labour Party, and soon-to-be Prime Minister, should come to Parliament and explain it.
“It’s not too late for Andy Burnham to do the right thing, make a statement, and answer questions from MPs on Monday about his ‘plan’.
“But the truth is that, whether it is Keir Starmer or Andy Burnham, the real problem is the high-tax, high-spend Labour MPs who are behind them.”
Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick branded the speech “20 minutes of vacuous twaddle”.
Mr Burnham even claimed he had not yet decided who will be in his Cabinet ahead of appointing it on Monday afternoon.
He said revealing his top team now — including whether Ed Miliband or Shabana Mahmood will be Chancellor — would “cause chaos”.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis appeared confident he would remain in post — and vape-loving Angela Rayner was tipped to be the new Health Secretary.
Ex-New Labour Cabinet Minister Mr Burnham said his rise to party leader would mark the “most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years”.
He added: “If we want an economy and a country that works for all people and places which to me should always be at the very core of Labourism, then it requires a new path to the one we’ve been on for the last 40 years.
“It will take us to a country where life is more affordable, and all people and places are lifted from where they are now.”
Mr Burnham has been criticised for focusing too much on the North and Manchester.
But he said he would be the leader “for the North and the South, for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland”.
He explained: “Yes, the North of England has given me so much — everything, in fact. And in return I have sought to give it the strongest voice I could. That was my job. But now I do the same for everywhere.
“I love every part of this country. I love all the different accents, all of the different traditions, some of the football clubs.”
Next week, Sir Keir will travel to see the King at Buckingham Palace, where he will offer his resignation as Prime Minister.
Mr Burnham will have a private audience with the King, who will formally appoint him PM. Sir Keir lasted just over two years as Prime Minister, having won a landslide majority at the 2024 election.
Mr Burnham inherits an in-tray from hell including sluggish growth, the boats crisis and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
His team has had just weeks to come up with policies to help hard-up Brits with living costs.
Mr Burnham has largely avoided scrutiny from the Press, having conducted just one media interview since returning to Westminster.
He has instead opted to answer questions on Reddit forums and take selected ones from the public.
Mr Burnham promised to end the “insidious briefing culture” which has gripped the party for the past two years.
