Keir Starmer gives way to the post of Prime Minister of Great Britain Andy Burnham. What the media is writing
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- Keir Starmer gives way to the post of Prime Minister of Great Britain Andy Burnham. What the media is writing
Andy Burnham will take over as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on July 20, replacing Keir Starmer. The new government leader is already being criticized for vague plans for the future and an unformed team. There is also active discussion about how he will interact with US President Donald Trump, whom he himself has criticized in the past. What the media say about Burnham's political future is in the Izvestia digest.
Bloomberg: Burnham promises unity after lightning ascent
On July 20, Andy Burnham will become Britain's seventh prime minister in just over a decade. However, there are still a number of unresolved issues regarding the composition of his cabinet and the policy he will pursue. In his address from Downing Street, the future prime minister promises to achieve tangible improvements in people's lives, while emphasizing that his assumption of office is a moment for "reflection and decision-making." He outlined his domestic priorities and concluded the address with a "message of optimism," saying the UK could look to the future with "hope and unity."
Bloomberg
Although Burnham won the support of the overwhelming majority of his party's members of parliament last week, he has already displeased a significant part of it by refusing to give clear instructions on who he will appoint to key cabinet positions, including the finance minister, and what policies he will pursue to make his cabinet significantly different. from the administration of the man he replaces— Cyrus Starmer.
The newly elected leader will inherit the prime minister's mailbox, which is full of difficult questions, including how to continue to reduce immigration levels, which contributed to the rise of Nigel Farage's UK Reform party, how to contain ever-rising welfare costs, how to revive Britain's stagnant productivity, and how to reform the social security system to meet the needs of an aging the population. On a global level, he will have to deal with the unpredictable US President Donald Trump, while simultaneously striving to maintain British leadership in the defense of Ukraine.
Reuters: Burnham, the "king of the North," promised to "rebuild Britain"
Burnham, dubbed the "king of the North," will become Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade, promising to "rebuild" the country so that it better focuses on issues of concern to people such as the cost of living crisis and the low efficiency of public services. After Starmer delivers his farewell speech in front of his office at 10 Downing Street and formally submits his resignation to King Charles III, Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, will also meet with the monarch to take over the post of prime minister.
Reuters
Calling his election as leader of the Labour Party "the most significant event in our politics in the last 40 years," Burnham promised to radically change the UK's political system in order to quickly raise living standards. "The government that I lead will confidently pave this path starting next week," he said [on July 17], promising to give Britain hope and change, which the country "desperately needs."
Burnham's first task will be to appoint cabinet members, especially the choice of the finance minister. Disagreements on this issue led to the downfall of previous administrations. One of the main contenders for the post, Ed Miliband, the Minister of Energy Security and Achieving zero Emissions, has been criticized, and now Interior Minister Shabana Mahmoud seems to be the favorite for the post.
Associated Press: The difficulties Burnham will face as Prime Minister
Burnham accepts an economy that was improving until the US and Israeli war with Iran shuffled the cards, and now the main forecast is for a sharp slowdown in growth in 2026, while inflation is rising. He said he wants to equalize opportunities across the UK, in particular by decentralizing government, redirecting funds to local governments, and bringing back some services that were privatized four decades ago. His version of business-oriented socialism, which aims to attract private and public funds to invest in transportation, housing, and infrastructure, may take many years to implement.
Associated Press
With the uncertain state of public finances, Burnham will have little opportunity to increase spending. He replaces Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was elected on the basis of an election program that excluded an increase in basic tax rates, so he will remain in office if he does not break these promises. Burnham said he did not rule out introducing a wealth tax, saying last week that the government "may have to ask for a little more."
Burnham has little experience in foreign policy, but he promised to continue fulfilling the government's obligations to NATO. He said that the UK will remain an active supporter of Ukraine and a staunch ally of the United States. The attitude towards Starmer may depend on how he interacts with Trump, who initially spoke enthusiastically about the prime minister, and then became disappointed that he did not support the war with Iran. Burnham had previously publicly criticized Trump, but stated that he would treat him with respect, but would also be ready to express disagreement.
The Washington Post: Burnham prepares to lead the UK and stand up to Trump
Burnham has been building his foreign policy team and preparing briefings on the most explosive regions for several weeks now. And while preparing to interact with Trump may not be exactly like preparing for the next pandemic, this fickle Oval Office host requires planning, strategy, and contingency planning that would have been unthinkable for previous administrations.
The Washington Post
"Trump is obviously an ally, not a security threat," said a Labor Party official. "But the combination of his unpredictability and power means that it is necessary to be prepared for his actions, which was not required for other presidents." "[Burnham's assistants] are certainly already thinking about it," the official said. "This is an area where you might notice some differences compared to Cyrus."
Almost every government allied with the United States has faced the same question: to what extent do relations with the White House correspond to the dignity of a leader? In different countries, the response of the foreign policy establishment tends to be pragmatism based on overcoming pride: compliments instead of confrontation, managing the presidential ego rather than provoking it. Starmer relied on flattery — an invitation to a state visit in front of the cameras, an unflappable smile, all criticism softened and clothed in the form of promises of a "special relationship." This strategy was not understood by the British public, which shuddered at what critics called submission to Trump.
The Guardian: what is known about Burnham's plans
The new Labor leader has so far set out a distinctly leftist position, while promising to be "pro-business." Burnham has promised to take greater government control over key utilities such as water supply, a move that is likely to start with Britain's largest water company, Thames Water. He is also considering radical plans that could reduce household energy bills by 130 pounds per year and make running a heat pump cheaper than running a gas boiler. The proposals will change the way households pay for gas and eliminate some fees related to government policy, which will cost taxpayers 3.2 billion pounds per year.
The Guardian
There are persistent rumors that Burnham will announce new drilling plans in the North Sea. The Labor leader's team has not publicly confirmed the details of its policy on the North Sea, nor has it said whether they will include new exploration licenses or "connections" where offshore oil and gas fields are connected to already approved production facilities through pipelines. In its program for 2024, the Labor Party promised to comply with existing mineral exploration licenses, but not to issue new ones.
Back in the House of Commons, Burnham has already supported changes to the asylum policy that tighten the immigration system and reform the appeals process. He is also expected to abandon Starmer's plans to introduce digital identity cards as part of a "review of priorities," redirecting resources dedicated to this program to address the rising cost of living.
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