Andy Burnham to pledge ‘new path’ for UK when he becomes Labour leader today

Andy Burnham will give more hints of his agenda for government (Picture: REUTERS)

Andy Burnham will vow to ‘fix the big things politics has neglected’ as he becomes Labour leader later today.

The new Makerfield MP will be announced as Keir Starmer’s successor at the top of the party during a special conference in London at midday.

Burnham will use the occasion to pledge a new direction for the country and reveal more about his plans for Number 10 for when he becomes Prime Minister on Monday.

The former Manchester mayor won the overwhelming support of Labour backbenchers to replace Sir Keir as leader, just weeks after returning to Parliament in the Makerfield by-election.

Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell will kick off proceedings at the central London event this afternoon, before Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will deliver the results of the party’s leadership contest.

Burnham has skyrocketed to power following his by-election win in Makerfield (Credits: EPA)

Burnham is expected to say his government will have the ‘courage to fix the big things that politics has neglected’.

The soon-to-be Prime Minister has said little about his plans for office and will only tease his top priorities in his speech later today.

Burnham is expected to call for the UK to start a ‘new path to the one we’ve been on for the last 40 years’

The new leader will promise an ‘authentically Labour’ programme of economic renewal.

This will include more public control, reindustrialisation and returning power to local communities.

Sir Keir is thought to swerve the event in London, having just returned from a farewell trip to Ukraine.

Burnham will pay tribute to his predecessor on Monday, praising him for leading the party into a historic election victory in 2024.

Home Secretary Mahmood is expected to become the next Chancellor (Picture: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Shutterstock)

The new leader is scrambling to organise his top team ahead of entry into Downing Street on Monday.

The so-called King of the North is said to be deciding on which Labour big beasts will fill positions in his Cabinet.

After weeks of speculation, Westminster seems to believe that Mahmood will replace Rachel Reeves as Chancellor, a position that many had once expected would go to Ed Miliband.

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