Andy Burnham uses first speech as PM to call for ‘national sense of unity’

WorldPolitics
20 Jul 2026 • 8:02 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Andy Burnham uses first speech as PM to call for ‘national sense of unity’

Prime Minister Andy Burnham promised to win over voters “fed up with politics” and show the world that the UK can once again be a source of stability.

Mr Burnham used his first speech as Prime Minister in Downing Street to promise to take power our of Westminster and give the public greater control over “life’s essentials”.

Speaking without the lectern used by his predecessors, Mr Burnham said he would set out help to address the cost-of-living squeeze.

Andy Burnham with supporters outside 10 Downing Street (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire)

In his first promise as Prime Minister he said he would “end rough sleeping in our country”.

Mr Burnham, who was met with cheers by supporters in Downing Street, said: “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.

“Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again.”

He concluded his first speech as Prime Minister by urging people to “pull with me” to “build a new national sense of unity, of common purpose and positivity”.

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