Andy Burnham will pledge to restore confidence in government and say Britain must be honest about the challenges it faces when he becomes prime minister today.The Labour leader is expected to start appointing his cabinet on Monday afternoon after a visit to Buckingham Palace to accept the role of prime minister from the King.Sir Keir Starmer will give a final statement in Downing Street at around 11.15am before his visit to the palace. Mr Burnham is expected to arrive outside Number 10 just before 1pm, where he will address the nation. The former mayor of Greater Manchester is expected to launch a policy blitz this week, including scrapping Sir Keir’s controversial digital ID scheme and reportedly opening the door to more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. US president Donald Trump reacted to reports of North Sea expansion over the weekend, saying that Mr Burnham will open oil fields “all the way”. He added: “The people of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets”. Andy Burnham to enter No 10 promising ‘breathing room’ on cost of livingAndy Burnham is expected to enter 10 Downing Street promising to give people “breathing room” against the rising cost of living.In his first speech as prime minister, Mr Burnham will urge the country to be honest about the challenges it faces and call for “reflection and resolution”.He will also say he is “acutely conscious” that the UK has had seven prime ministers in the last decade, stressing the need for more stable and responsible politics and pledging to restore faith in government.Allies of Mr Burnham said he will argue that political stability must deliver “tangible” improvements along with the “breathing room” on the cost of living he has previously promised.Britain PoliticsRebecca Whittaker20 July 2026 08:00Liberal Democrat leader calls on Burnham to end the 'social care catastrophe'As Andy Burnham enters Number 10, the Liberal Democrats have called for changed on social care as party leader Ed Davey warns that failure to act will be “a catastrophe for families, for the NHS and for local services”.The party has called for guaranteed rights for every carer, including respite care and a full replacement of the broken carers allowance.Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey said: “The social care crisis is a catastrophe for families, for the NHS and for local services.“Commentators and politicians pontificate as to why Britain feels ungovernable and in decline. I’ll give them the answer: it’s the refusal to grasp the nettle of care.“We are stuck with a system that better resembles the 1920s than the 2020s. Where elderly people are left bedbound without support, and where families lose everything on care home fees. Where local services are defunded to prop-up a broken model which politicians have not had the courage to touch. “Liberal Democrats stand ready to work across party lines to tackle this existential crisis. For carers and for our country. Nothing matters more.”Rebecca Whittaker20 July 2026 07:50Burnham’s ambition to transform housing market under threat amid housebuilding crisisAndy Burnham's ambition to transform Britain's housing market are under threat as the housebuilding industry faces its toughest conditions since the financial crisis, with developers grappling with rising costs, weakening demand and higher borrowing costs.The new prime minister has argued that a radical expansion of social and affordable housing is essential to tackling the chronic housing shortage, and has repeatedly called for greater public investment and powers to build at scale.But the economic backdrop confronting ministers and developers suggests delivering those ambitions will be far from easy.Read more here:Rebecca Whittaker20 July 2026 07:45Rebecca Whittaker20 July 2026 07:34Andy Burnham: 'We're not in the right place as a country'Andy Burnham has told The Times that “we’re not in the right place as a country” ahead of becoming prime minister on Monday.Referring to his pledge that he will set out a ten-year plan for the country, Mr Burnham said: “I’m not saying that means I’m setting out to say I’m going to be here for ten years... it’s more that we’re not in the right place structurally, we’re not in the right place as a country. I think people can feel that.”He added: “To be clear to people, it can’t be done overnight. But you’ve got to show people where we’re going, and then the steps towards it. And that’s what I’m going to try to do.”Speaking about his approach to the economy, Mr Burnham said: “I think you have to rethink how we run things to get a different approach to public spending, and to running the economy - more focused on early investment, early intervention, setting people up for success, and much less paying for failure.”Referring to his plans to scrap Sir Keir Starmer’s digital ID scheme, Mr Burnham added: “That’s an example of what’s to come, freeing up resource for something that, in my view, wouldn’t make a tangible difference to people’s lives anytime soon. And even if it did, it wouldn’t necessarily make life easier, it might do in the long run.”Holly Bancroft19 July 2026 23:15Recap: Trump weighs in on North Sea oil and gas row hours before Burnham becomes PMIn an intervention hours before the new prime minister enters Downing Street, the US president – a vocal supporter of fossil fuels, who has repeatedly dismissed the scientifically backed evidence behind the climate crisis – said the move would prevent Britain from becoming a “poverty stricken disaster”.Mr Burnham previously insisted he would stick to Labour’s manifesto pledge not to issue new North Sea licences. But he has also refused to deny reports that he is considering approving new production.On his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said: “The People of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets because the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has stated that he will be opening up, all the way, the invaluable North Sea Oil!”The comments mark the start of a potentially turbulent relationship with Britain’s fifth prime minister in four years.Holly Bancroft19 July 2026 22:03Shabana Mahmood’s history on tax and welfare sparks tensions with Andy Burnham alliesThe frontrunner to be named as Andy Burnham’s chancellor is already causing tensions with his supporters on the left because of her past support for tax and welfare cuts, writes Political Editor David Maddox. But the MPs on the left of the party who were the biggest cheerleaders for Mr Burnham being parachuted into parliament to replace Sir Keir Starmer are now concerned he is picking someone from the right of the party to oversee economic policy.Party insiders have noted that Ms Mahmood was a major internal critic over Rachel Reeves’s tax hikes, which sources claim she privately branded “ridiculous”, “anti-aspiration” and “anti-competitive”.Holly Bancroft19 July 2026 22:01Burnham to stress the need for more stable politics in first speech as PMAndy Burnham will pledge to restore confidence in government and give people “breathing room” when he becomes prime minister later today.The new Labour leader will set out his domestic priorities in his first speech from Downing Street after visiting the Palace to “kiss hands” with the King and formally take over from Sir Keir Starmer.He is expected to characterise the moment as one of “reflection and resolution”, arguing Britain must be honest about the challenges it faces and demonstrate it can solve them.And he will say he is “acutely conscious” that the UK has had seven prime ministers over the last 10 years, and stress the need for more stable and responsible politics.Allies of Mr Burnham said he would argue that political stability must deliver “tangible” improvements along with the “breathing room” on the cost of living he has previously promised.Having come to the Labour leadership without a contest barely a month after returning to Westminster, Mr Burnham is yet to set out much of his agenda for his premiership.He has already said he wants to devolve power away from Westminster as one of his key priorities, driving that agenda with a new “No 10 North” in Manchester, which he is expected to visit later in the week.Promising a “reset of priorities”, Mr Burnham has also announced he will scrap Sir Keir’s flagship digital ID programme in order to focus money and attention on the cost of living.Andy Burnham (PA Wire)Holly Bancroft19 July 2026 22:00Andy Burnham becomes prime minister: Timings expected on MondaySir Keir Starmer is expected to make a final statement on his tenure as prime minister in Downing Street on Monday before he heads to Buckingham Palace to step down. This is expected at around 11:15am on Monday morning. Andy Burnham will then meet with King Charles to accept the role of prime minister and head to number 10, where he will give his first speech as Labour leader at just before 1pm. (Getty)Holly Bancroft19 July 2026 21:58