Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his first Commons speech to blame Brexit and Margaret Thatcher for a decade of low growth, promising a new sense of optimism and signalling openness to major policy shifts.
Key facts
- Burnham blamed Brexit and Margaret Thatcher for a decade of low growth in the UK.
- He hinted at committing to spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2030.
- He signalled openness to renationalising the water industry, calling it a 'leaking monument' to privatisation's failures.
- He opened the door to electoral reform in Labour's next manifesto.
- He said he would attend the Cop31 climate summit in Turkey but be 'pragmatic' on energy supply.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham told MPs that Britain needed to be “brutally honest” about having taken “a series of wrong turns” over the last 40 years, blaming Brexit and Margaret Thatcher for a decade of low growth, according to the Guardian. The remarks came in his first Commons appearance since he took over as prime minister around six weeks ago.
Burnham said he wanted to build a new sense of optimism so that, in his words, “we can make this next decade better than the last.” The speech set out a broad agenda touching on defence, public utilities, electoral reform and climate policy.
On defence, the Guardian reported that Burnham hinted he would commit to spending 3% of GDP on the military by 2030. He said he had appointed John Healey as his chancellor “precisely because” of his position on military spending.
The prime minister also signalled he is open to renationalising the water industry, saying he is looking at “all possible solutions.” He described the sector as a “leaking monument” to the failures of privatisation.
On electoral reform, Burnham opened the door to revisiting the issue in Labour’s next manifesto. “I do believe there needs to be a mandate to make that change,” he said. “There are different views in this house, but I believe we will need to get a consensus at the next election. And if there is that consensus, then a change can be made in the next parliament.”
On climate, Burnham announced he would attend the Cop31 climate summit in Turkey and continue pursuing green energy, but said he would be “pragmatic” on supply. The Guardian noted this comes amid expectations that he will approve the Jackdaw gas field, with Burnham arguing that the mistake is “saying it’s got to be one or the other” for political reasons.
Why it matters
Burnham's first Commons speech as prime minister sets out the direction of his government on major issues including defence spending, water ownership, voting systems and energy. The mix of green ambition with a pragmatic stance on gas signals how he intends to balance climate goals against energy supply concerns.
Frequently asked questions
What did Andy Burnham blame for the UK's low growth?
According to the Guardian, Burnham blamed Brexit and Margaret Thatcher for a decade of low growth, arguing Britain needs to be brutally honest about a series of wrong turns over the last 40 years.
What did Burnham say about defence spending?
He hinted he would commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, and said he appointed John Healey as chancellor precisely because of his position on military spending.
What is Burnham's position on water renationalisation?
He signalled he is open to renationalising the water industry, saying he is looking at all possible solutions and describing the sector as a 'leaking monument' to the failures of privatisation.