【HA Viewpoint】UK Prime Minister Starmer formally stepped down on the 20th, with Labour Party leader Burnham taking over as the new PM that same day. In the afternoon, Burnham delivered his inaugural speech outside 10 Downing Street. “I’m deeply aware that I am the seventh prime minister since 2016 – this is a moment for reflection and fresh planning,” he said. “We will mark this as Britain’s turning point, bringing the biggest change in nearly 40 years.” Burnham pledged to reduce living costs, draft and publish a “UK Ten-Year Plan,” and make ending rough sleeping his top priority. However, many media outlets noted that Burnham set similar goals during his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester but failed to meet them. The Guardian described Burnham’s speech as “honest, acknowledging his generation of politicians’ failures. His talk was full of humility and pragmatism – perhaps exactly what the nation needs.”
Top Priority: Ending Rough Sleeping
On the 20th, Starmer first gave his farewell speech outside the PM’s residence. He said he led Labour from “historic defeat” to a landslide victory in 2024, and Britain is now “stronger and fairer than two years ago.” Warning against external forces trying to divide society, he urged the public to avoid social fragmentation. He then handed the “baton” to Andy Burnham, offering his full support. Afterward, Starmer went to Buckingham Palace to submit his resignation to King Charles III, which was accepted.
Following Starmer’s resignation, Burnham visited Buckingham Palace to receive the King’s authorization to form a new government, officially becoming PM. He then arrived at Downing Street for his inaugural speech. From the start, Burnham showed a distinct personal style – the podium in front of the PM’s residence was removed, leaving only a microphone.
Burnham stated that Britain took some wrong turns in the 1980s. “We will change the political culture, focusing more on solving problems than on bickering,” he said. He announced plans to unveil a cost-of-living reduction plan on the 21st and a “UK Ten-Year Plan” later this year. The Burnham government also pledged an additional £340 million to tackle rough sleeping nationwide.
The Guardian called Burnham’s speech “brave.” However, during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester, he set a similar goal to eliminate rough sleeping in the city, but as local media reported, the number of people sleeping rough in Manchester has been rising over the past four years. Estimates suggest that by autumn 2025, around 4,793 people will be sleeping rough in England each night, a historic high.
Crafting a ‘UK Ten-Year Plan’
British newspapers all led with the new PM on their front pages on the 20th. The Daily Mirror’s headline was “Burning Ambition,” focusing on Burnham’s promises on living costs and welfare; the Daily Express highlighted Burnham’s potential tax hikes, noting he didn’t have a mandate for them; the Guardian emphasized that it’s time for Britain to face its challenges head-on.
In an interview with The Times, Burnham elaborated on his “UK Ten-Year Plan.” “I’m not saying I’ll be here for ten years,” Burnham said, arguing that British politicians have “lost control” over the past 40 years. He pledged to end “40 years of neoliberalism,” meaning “not just controlling public service costs, but also public spending.”
Li Guanjie, a research fellow at the Centre for British Studies at Shanghai International Studies University, told HA Viewpoint that Burnham’s call to “end neoliberalism” is an attack on the Conservative Party. Neoliberalism is not only the philosophical foundation of the Conservatives but also a core principle they’ve upheld since Margaret Thatcher’s era. Its basic tenet is “small government, big market.” To address the “British disease” of the 1970s and 1980s, Thatcher’s government implemented reforms like compulsory competitive tendering and privatization, pushing public services into the market and establishing market-led governance. Burnham opposes this system that prioritizes freedom and the market as the ultimate authority.
Li noted that by opposing neoliberalism, Burnham aims to reshape Labour’s philosophy. From Tony Blair’s era to before Burnham’s leadership, Labour long pursued a “Third Way” or centrist path. Now, Burnham is trying to reverse this trend, steering Labour back to its traditional political logic and core values – strengthening state power. This is reflected in increased state intervention. However, the problem is that the Conservatives currently have a weak public support base, while populist sentiment is surging. So, simply opposing neoliberalism may not precisely hit the pain points of current UK political struggles.
‘Heading to Manchester for Answers’
Cameron, Theresa May, Johnson, Truss, Sunak, Starmer… Since the Brexit referendum in June 2016, prime ministers have changed like a revolving door, with Truss serving the shortest term at just 49 days. The Australian Financial Review said Burnham shoulders the heavy task of fixing a fractured Britain, which, since Brexit caused deep divisions, has had to face the reality of being increasingly seen as a middle power. He inherits a nation with low morale, rampant anger, political division, stagnating economy, the weakest military in decades, and a foreign policy at a crossroads.
“Britain is pinning its hopes on this man to rescue its economy, so we head to Manchester for answers,” CNN reported. Burnham hopes to bring his unique, pro-business, devolved, social-democratic “Manchesterism” to London and beyond. Manchester’s story shows change is possible, but it also takes time to materialize.
Professor Anand Menon of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King’s College London told HA Viewpoint that there’s a risk the UK government may focus too much on relations with the EU as a source of economic growth, without fully considering alternative sources, like domestic reforms. In the view of British scholars, the Burnham government’s foreign policy may follow Starmer’s direction, continuing to strengthen ties with European countries and maintain stable diplomatic relations with China.