Prime Minister Andy Burnham has completed his inaugural week in office, aiming to establish his administration's agenda while navigating immediate pressures. The week has been characterised by a series of early policy announcements and a symbolic move to centralise power in the north of England, with the establishment of 'No 10 North' in Manchester.
Among the first policy initiatives unveiled by the new government were a reduction in VAT on electricity bills, changes to bus fares across England, and reforms to business rates in England. These announcements, delivered daily, appear to be an attempt by Mr Burnham to demonstrate a proactive approach to the cost of living crisis, a key pledge of his campaign. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, returning to the cabinet this week, emphasised the urgency, stating, "We are on borrowed time if we don't get a move on."
Mr Burnham has positioned his new base in Manchester as the beginning of "the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen," promising "the biggest changes in the last 40 years." While these initial announcements have been more focused, the Prime Minister has indicated that a comprehensive "10-year plan for Britain" will be presented later in the year.
However, the fledgling administration has also encountered immediate domestic and international challenges. Domestically, Mr Burnham has intervened on the issue of early prisoner releases in England and Wales, calling for a "pause" amidst concerns over overcrowded prisons. On the international front, the renewal of permission for the United States to use British airbases for "defensive" strikes on Iran has led to Tehran claiming these bases are now legitimate targets, contributing to a spike in oil prices amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, has been quick to criticise the new Prime Minister's initial actions. Speaking on Thursday, Ms Badenoch described Mr Burnham's early offerings as "superficial" and "thin," questioning, "Is that it?" She further suggested that Mr Burnham was "behaving like he's still the mayor of Manchester" rather than the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, indicating the opposition's strategy to challenge the new government's approach.