Burnham will be bolder but stick to Labour manifesto, deputy leader says

Andy Burnham will stand by promises made in Labour's 2024 election manifesto but will be bolder and more ambitious, the party's deputy leader has said.

Speaking to the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Lucy Powell said Burnham's leadership would be a moment for "clearing the decks of all the other things that might distract" from the cost of living and the economy.

Burnham will replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister on Monday, following a meeting with King Charles III.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said the incoming prime minister was a "people pleaser" at a time when the country needed someone who could "take tough decisions, who can face down Labour MPs".

"The job is not a popularity contest. It is making the lives of all of the people outside this building better. And he has not said what he's going to do. It's all airy-fairy stuff," she said.

Burnham was officially declared Labour Party leader on Friday following a short contest in which he was the only candidate, having secured the backing of 379 MPs.

Some opposition parties have urged Burnham to call a general election in order to ensure he has a mandate for his premiership.

However, Powell insisted Burnham would stick to the promises made in Labour's manifesto in the 2024 general election.

"Our manifesto did talk about the redistribution of power, it did talk about the rewiring of our country, it did talk about taking on some of those vested interests," she said.

"He [Burnham] really understands the bigger, bolder measures that are needed to live up to the manifesto promises."

She also said his leadership was a chance to "reset" and that scrapping the digital ID scheme was a "small example of reprioritising".

In one of his first announcements since becoming Labour leader, Burnham said he would ditch the plan announced by Sir Keir last year.

Powell said the scheme would have cost a "not insignificant amount of money" but would also have diverted attention from the government's priorities.

Separately, the BBC has been told Burnham's government will announce plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

Powell said Burnham would be "pragmatic" on the subject, adding: "I don't think it's a change of policy. It's more a change of emphasis."

US President Donald Trump applauded the move, writing on social media that tapping into North Sea oil resources would make the UK "one of the Richest Countries anywhere in the World".

The announcement is expected to be part of a package of measures including plans to take water and energy companies under public control and a new council house-building programme.

Burnham has previously said he wants to see "greater public control" of the water and energy sectors and has called for Thames Water to be nationalised.

In her interview with the BBC, Powell also backed increased public ownership, arguing the economy had been "overly privatised" and the "utilities and essentials of life don't work in the interest of ordinary people".

She said bills were "going up and up because they are run in the interests of private interest, not for the consumers or for taxpayers".

But, speaking to the same programme, former Conservative minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said: "The water industry needs private capital or it has to have taxpayers' money - no other money is available."

Although it has been clear for weeks Burnham would become the UK's next prime minister, he will not formally start the role until Monday.

First, Sir Keir will offer his resignation to King Charles. Next, Burnham will be asked by the King to form a new government.

Burnham will then head to Downing Street where he is likely to give a speech outside the door to No 10.

Once inside, one of his immediate tasks will be to appoint people to key ministerial roles.

In the weeks since Burnham announced his intention to stand, there has been fevered speculation as to who will get which job, particularly the crucial position of chancellor.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband had initially appeared the most likely candidate, but in recent days Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has emerged as another potential replacement for Rachel Reeves at the Treasury.

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