Labour pins hopes on Burnham reboot as he plans policy blitz
Andy Burnham is preparing to take office as the new leader of the Labour Party following the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer. Despite a long and sometimes difficult path to the leadership, Burnham is now coordinating with the civil service to begin his term.
Why it matters
This marks a significant transition in UK leadership, signaling a potential shift in government policy and political direction for the country.
Image source, PA Media By Chris Mason Political editor Published 14 minutes ago It must feel like one of the biggest weekends of Andy Burnham's life. Downing Street beckons for a man who has long dreamed of leading his party and his country.
"16 years we've been thinking about this, and it's still felt like a rush in the last few weeks," admitted one supporter.
A key thing to remember with Burnham's rise to this moment is that it happened slowly for a long time, and then happened quickly in next to no time at all.
It was way back in 2010 that Burnham's designs on Downing Street first became explicit and public.
In the aftermath of Labour's defeat in that year's general election, he contested the vacancy left by Gordon Brown. He was to do the same in 2015, in the wake of his party losing again.
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