As Andy Burnham settles into Downing Street, a chorus of optimism is growing among those eager for a new era of decisiveness in British politics. The current Prime Minister's pledge to act with speed and purpose has resonated deeply with a public fed up with what they perceive as the UK's institutional inertia.
This sentiment is hardly new – nor is it entirely unfounded. As Keir Starmer himself acknowledged during his tenure, the "speed and ability to get things done" have long been a major challenge for British governments. According to pollster Julian Gallie of Merlin Strategy, the public has been "crying out for change for a decade", driven by significant shifts in politics, including the Brexit vote, the 2017 Corbyn surge, and the 2024 Conservative defeat.
Historically, significant governmental acceleration has often been catalysed by national emergencies. Examples include Franklin Roosevelt's rapid legislative action during the Great Depression, the UK's sudden consideration of political union with France in 1940, and the decisive nationalisation of banks during the 2008 financial crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic saw an unprecedented sweep of new laws and temporary suspensions of long-standing protocols.
Without such an immediate threat, Burnham faces the challenge of generating momentum in a less acute crisis environment. Some within the government argue that Starmer's cautious approach was more a reflection of his personal style than an inherent flaw in the state apparatus. Lisa Nandy suggests that deferring complex issues to independent commissions with lengthy reporting timelines reflects a focus on missions and milestones, rather than an unwillingness to act.
Burnham has vowed to expend "political capital" on solutions, promising a bolder and faster administration. However, the current state of public finances presents a significant constraint, making it challenging to implement ambitious reforms without a clear strategy for funding. The success of Burnham's pledge will depend not only on his political will but also on his ability to navigate the entrenched bureaucratic complexities and financial realities that have historically slowed the pace of change in the UK.