Burnham Says He Will Be a Pro-Business Prime Minister

Andy Burnham said he’ll be a pro-business prime minister, in his first speech since formally winning an uncontested race to lead the governing Labour Party.

(Bloomberg) — Andy Burnham said he’ll be a pro-business prime minister, in his first speech since formally winning an uncontested race to lead the governing Labour Party. “Make no mistake, everybody, I will be a pro-business leader of the Labour Party, as I was a pro-business mayor of Greater Manchester,” he said as he talked about reviving pubs, shops and small local businesses. As he prepares to take over from Keir Starmer as British premier on Monday, Burnham paid tribute to the “foundation laid” by his predecessor during the address.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, in her role as chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee, announced the result. She is the currently the favorite to become Burnham’s chancellor next week. “I haven’t made any decisions yet about who will be in that top team, but I will soon,” Burnham said.

“And when I have, you will see it reflects all parts of our party, all communities, and it will reflect your own place within this great party of ours.” Burnham said he’s ready to lead the nation and return Labour to being a party which represents the UK’s forgotten regions He criticized decisions taken under former Conservative premier Margaret Thatcher to increase privatization, saying, “The country surrendered control of the essentials: housing, water, energy, transport, and left people exposed to higher costs.” Bloomberg reported on Thursday that the incoming prime minister will use his first days in office to announce that he is bringing Thames Water under greater public control: “The right used the phrase “take back control,” but they are the ones who gave it away in the first place,” he said.

He promise a country where “life is more affordable, and all people and places are lifted from where they are now.”