Andy Burnham, the newly elected MP for Makerfield, is poised to become Prime Minister in less than three weeks, with a transition accelerated by Keir Starmer's resignation and Wes Streeting's withdrawal from the race. Burnham's team, caught off-guard by the speed, is now focusing on a first 100-day agenda centered on devolution, public control of utilities, and youth opportunities, aiming to deliver tangible change quickly to secure public support.
Following his 9,231 majority victory in the Makerfield by-election, Burnham traveled to London on a delayed Avanti West Coast train, but the political transition is expected to be swift. If unopposed, he could enter Number 10 by 17 July. An MP close to Burnham stated, "The next general election will be won or lost in the first 100 days – it’s very difficult to change people’s views after that. They also need to see real delivery, like Zohran Mamdani promising to fill potholes in New York and people leaning out of their windows and actually seeing it."
Devolution and Regional Empowerment
Burnham's first major initiative will be a significant devolution offer, building on the Devolution Act that grants mayors sweeping powers. Sources indicate he may go further, potentially creating new mayors for various regions or introducing a "basic law" to mandate raising living standards across the country, as outlined in his book Head North. This aims to signal a government serious about uplifting forgotten areas. Burnham's transition team includes Anneliese Midgley (unions and party), Louise Haigh (agenda for government), and Sally Jameson (numbers with MPs).
Public Control of Utilities and Youth Opportunities
Burnham remains committed to public control of essential utilities, despite skepticism from some Labour quarters. The scale depends on his choice of chancellor. Other early priorities include youth employment opportunities, following Alan Milburn's review, and addressing asylum seeker housing in HMOs, a key by-election issue. His tough stance on migration suggests Shabana Mahmood may stay as home secretary, though no cabinet position is certain.
Fast Transition and Stability Concerns
Initially aiming for a September conference speech, Burnham's team now sees benefits in a quick transition to avoid a power vacuum that could be exploited by political enemies and right-wing media. Starmer faced online hate fueled by far-right agitators; Burnham is prepared to fight back on social media. Transition preparations have been underway, with Darren Jones meeting Haigh in Makerfield and holding Cabinet Office talks on budget preparations and national security oversight, including effects from the war in Iran and potential far-right riots.
Some MPs discussed a female challenger against Burnham, but most deem instability too risky given Burnham's non-factional reputation. One minister noted, "We have to think about what is best when there is some really big things that need to be done. We ultimately know what Andy is trying to achieve, he has been doing it for a long time." Starmer will remain for the Nato summit on 7 July, but the EU reset scheduled for 22 July will be postponed. Burnham faces potential by-elections in Greater Manchester and Holborn and St Pancras, testing his ability to beat the Greens. A swift transition could see Burnham in Number 10 by 17 July, just in time for a potential England World Cup win on 19 July.
