Andy Burnham has declared himself ready to “beat Britain’s new right” with a fresh, united approach as he becomes the leader of the Labour party before taking over as British prime minister on Monday.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester won overwhelming support from MPs, trade unions, and party branches, making him the only choice to succeed Keir Starmer.
At a special party conference at TUC headquarters in London on Friday, Burnham was announced as leader by Shabana Mahmood, the frontrunner to become his chancellor, who also chairs the party’s ruling executive.
Speaking to a room of senior Labour politicians and supporters, Burnham said the country was “crying out for a new politics.” But he also warned that this was Labour’s “last chance to change” and that the party must do so together, as a united movement.
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“This is a proud moment you have given me and my family, and an emotional one,” he said. “It is one for which I am ready – ready to lead and to build on the foundation laid by one person more than any other. Under Keir Starmer’s leadership we went from our worst defeat to one of the best victories in history.”
He said Labour was now united, “and we put the power that comes from that unity at the service of people and places who have been waiting too long for politics to bring them hope again.”
Despite praising Starmer, Burnham tried to draw a line under the past by asking whether Labour has “been good enough,” and promising to “do better.”
“First, I will work relentlessly to build a culture of one Labour team, because change starts with us,” he said. “We won’t beat Britain’s new right if we are consumed by infighting and pulling in different directions. That is an indulgence.”
Although he has not yet set out detailed policies, Burnham said the broad areas he wanted to focus on were giving power to communities, being a pro-business leader, and building more social and council housing.
Burnham is expected to take over as prime minister on Monday after Starmer goes to Buckingham Palace to start the handover process.
Burnham will then give a speech outside Downing Street and appoint his cabinet in the afternoon, although he claimed on Friday not to have decided who will be in his top team yet.
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The new leader said he would set out a distinctive direction for Labour, while seeking to work with other parties. He rejected the idea of “wearing too many Tory clothes” or trying to out-Reform Reform, or out-green the Greens.
“I want people to understand the thinking behind the political direction I set,” he said, as he argued that too much power was centralised in Westminster or handed to private companies.
Addressing criticism that he has been too focused on the north, given his mayoral role, Burnham said he would be a leader for the north, south, east, west, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
“This is a moment to speak for all parts of the country and unite people in a common cause,” he said. “I love every part of the country, all of the accents and different traditions and some of the football clubs. But I also feel they can be more than they are.”
He promised to “take power back from Westminster and Whitehall and give it back to the place where you live.”
He also paid tribute to some of his heroes in the Labour party, thanking David Blunkett and Neil Kinnock for supporting his career and inspiring his political path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Andy Burnhams statement regarding beating Britains new right as Labour leader
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q Who is Andy Burnham
A He is the Mayor of Greater Manchester and a prominent member of the Labour Party He previously ran to be the national Labour leader
Q What does he mean by Britains new right
A He is referring to the current Conservative government specifically the more populist antiwoke and economically nationalist wing of the party
Q Is he the current leader of the Labour Party
A No Keir Starmer is the current leader of the national Labour Party Burnham is a powerful regional leader but not the national party leader
Q Why is he saying this now
A He is positioning himself as a strong northernbased voice ready to challenge the Conservatives in the next general election arguing that Labour needs to be bold and offer a clear alternative
IntermediateLevel Questions
Q How does Burnham plan to beat this new right
A He argues Labour must win back red wall seats by focusing on practical workingclass issues like transport housing and secure jobsnot just by attacking the Tories
Q Is he criticizing Keir Starmer by saying this
A Indirectly yes Its seen as a nudge to the national leadership to be more aggressive and distinct from the Conservatives rather than playing it safe Burnham wants Labour to be bolder in its messaging
Q What is the red wall and why does it matter
A It refers to a group of constituencies in northern England the Midlands and Wales that historically voted Labour but switched to the Conservatives in 2019 Winning them back is seen as essential for Labour to win a general election
Q Does Burnham have a specific policy to beat the new right
A He champions the Londonstyle public transport system and devolving more power from Westminster to local regions He argues this directly helps peoples daily lives which beats the Tories national agenda
