Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsWorldBurnham's first week as U.K. PM: cost-of-living relief, Labour reset and challenges aheadQuestions linger about whether Keir Starmer's replacement can unite the party while also reviving and bolstering the economyAuthor of the article: You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.New U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has sought to put forward a more positive message than predecessor Keir Starmer. Photo by Richard Pohle /POOL/AFPNew U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first week in office signalled a shift in focus and style for the centre-left Labour government as he sought a clean break from predecessor Keir Starmer.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorCost of living Burnham, 56, announced three feel-good measures designed to offer Britons and businesses some early modest help with high living costs, which he has made the focus of his nascent administration.He unveiled the removal of a tax on household electricity bills, a planned cap on most bus fares in England and a 20 percent reduction in business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againIn contrast, one of Starmer’s first moves in power two years ago was to cut winter fuel payments for millions of elderly people — a mistake he was forced to reverse and struggled to recover from.Burnham’s early sweeteners are raising questions about whether he shares Starmer’s commitment to fiscal discipline, although he insists they represent a “re-prioritization” of spending.The U.S.-Iran conflict, which has sent energy prices soaring, and other geopolitical crises outside of Burnham’s control could impact his ability to drive his cost-of-living agenda.He will also have to confront international affairs sooner or later, but is expected to travel less than Starmer, who worked hard to restore Britain’s credibility overseas but was branded “never here Keir” by opponents.“It’s good to see the Burnham government get itself on the front foot politically, but you can see that there are a lot of storm clouds on the horizon,” said Patrick Diamond, an advisor to previous Labour governments. Casual vibesAfter arriving in Downing Street on Monday, Burnham delivered a speech without notes and without the traditional lecturn, symbolizing the more relaxed image he cultivated over nine years as Manchester mayor.That said, he did swap his trademark dark T-Shirt and jacket for a suit and tie, although he has maintained his regular output of casual, selfie-led videos on his social media channels.During his inaugural speech, Burnham emphasized his desire to “bring back hope,” contrasting with the Starmer government’s repeated warnings about the “tough choices” required following 14 years of Conservative rule.“That didn’t work as a narrative because it was too pessimistic,” Diamond told AFP.“What Burnham’s doing is really very different because he’s trying to underline that things can be better, and government can still make a difference.”On Friday, Burnham opened his new No. 10 North office in Manchester, where he intends to work at least once a week as part of his drive to increase devolution in England.Addressing staff, he said it would be the “nerve centre for a rewired Britain” and not a “short-lived gimmick.”Political unity?Burnham has vowed to unite the ruling Labour party, a pledge that some commentators have seen as rich since his supporters just helped topple Starmer from power.On Wednesday, he dismissed suggestions that his culling of numerous Starmer loyalists from his ministerial team, and promotion of his own allies, was itself a factional move. Burnham is driving Labour’s government in a leftward direction. (Toby Melville/POOL/AFP) Photo by Toby Melville /POOL/AFP“Obviously, there’s a need to bring in change to give the government that new direction that I’ve called for. That’s just the reality of politics,” Burnham said.Since he was parachuted into the top job by Labour MPs, rather than winning a popular vote, Burnham is likely to face continued questions about his mandate.As leader of parliament’s largest party he automatically became prime minister without having to call a new general election. The next one is due in 2029.Nigel Farage, leader of the hard-right Reform U.K. party which has topped opinion polls for about 18 months, has repeatedly said that Burnham should announce a national vote now.Those calls could grow if Burnham deviates from the manifesto upon which Labour under Starmer won its majority in July 2024, something he might be tempted to do if the economy continues to stall.“The challenge he faces is that the public judges quickly,” political scientist Tony Travers told AFP.“And the difficulty with a lot of the problems that he’s dealing with” is that they are “30, 40, 50 years in their evolution.”Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.