Andy Burnham will pledge that his new Government “must deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives”.
The new Prime Minister will say in his first speech as Prime Minister outside 10 Downing Street that Britain “faces a moment not for triumphalism but for honesty and reflection” today.
He will set out his priorities for restoring confidence in Government and giving Britain more breathing room.
Mr Burnham will say that he is “acutely conscious” of being the sixth person to walk up Downing Street as a new Prime Minister in just 10 years.
He will argue that the unprecedented turnover in national leadership underlines the need for a more stable and responsible politics.
Mr Burnham will describe the moment as one of “reflection and resolution” saying that the UK must be honest about the challenges it faces while demonstrating that it can once again be recognised around the world for effective Government.
Setting out his domestic priorities, Mr Burnham will argue that “political stability must deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives”, and make a “commitment to giving people more breathing room”.
He will conclude his speech with a message of optimism, arguing that Britain can once again look to the future with hope and unity.
So far, Mr Burnham’s commitment to political stability has echoed the promises of Sir Keir Starmer, who promised on the steps of Downing Street two years ago to do the very same.
Newly elected, the former Labour leader optimistically promised that his Government would “serve” the people of Britain “country first, party second”.
He said: “It is surely clear to everyone that our country needs a bigger reset, a rediscovery of who we are.
“Because no matter how fierce the storms of history, one of the great strengths of this nation has always been our ability to navigate a way through to calmer waters.
“And yet this depends upon politicians particularly those who stand for stability and moderation – as I do recognising when we must change course.”
Over the course of his premiership, Sir Keir committed to more than 16 U-turns on Government policy, including Winter Fuel Payments, mandatory digital ID and the grooming gangs inquiry.
In the same address, the then-Prime Minister said Labour would “rebuild the infrastructure of opportunity, the world class schools and colleges, the affordable homes that I know are the ingredients of hope for working people, the security that working class families like mine could build their lives around.”
Ever since, the Holborn & St Pancras MP oversaw Britain’s working class communities becoming increasingly disillusioned with Labour in Government.
Sharon Graham, the General Secretary of Unite, one of the UK’s largest unions, has been a vocal critic of the outgoing Prime Minister.
Last September, she warned Sir Keir that Labour has “one year to get this right because Nigel Farage is on their tail”.
She continued: “And don’t get me wrong, Farage is not the answer, but he is a good communicator.
“And whether we like it or not, when he is talking about net zero, and about what’s happened to communities and workers, people are hearing what Labour used to say.”
