Prime Minister Andy Burnham committed to reversing decades of privatization and restoring public control over essential services during an emotional address to the Labour party’s annual conference in Liverpool on Tuesday. The 56-year-old leader, who has held office for just ten weeks, outlined a long-term vision that includes free social care, electoral reform, and adjustments to pension systems.
Burnham became visibly tearful when discussing his father, who passed away earlier this month from Alzheimer’s disease. “I’m going to use this job to build the kind of Britain my dad wanted to see and fight with everything I’ve got to keep it together,” he told the packed audience, which responded with numerous standing ovations during the hour-long speech.
The Prime Minister defended his plan to introduce a National Care Service free at the point of use in England, acknowledging the financial and political challenges involved. “I accept I may pay a political price. But someone has to go through the pain barrier and rip the plaster off,” he said. Think-tank estimates suggest such a system could cost nearly £19 billion ($25 billion) annually.
Burnham, who replaced Keir Starmer in July following a period of domestic policy struggles within Labour, emphasized a decisive break from the past forty years of governance. He announced intentions to repeal the ideological restrictions on public ownership of water companies introduced during Margaret Thatcher’s premiership between 1979 and 1990. Additionally, he proposed greater local powers and increased public control over housing, energy, and water to stimulate the struggling economy.
Addressing the economic climate characterized by insipid growth and soaring borrowing costs, Burnham also pledged to create a new government body to invest in Britain’s electricity grid. He aims to reduce high energy prices, which have been exacerbated by conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, while also securing funding for defense to meet NATO commitments.
On the international stage, Burnham expressed regret over Brexit, stating that the UK’s departure from the European Union had done “more harm than good.” He vowed to seek consensus on future ties with the bloc, noting that different options would be presented ahead of a planned summit later this year.
To fund these ambitions, Burnham indicated he would campaign on changing pension uplift mechanisms, a move that drew sharp criticism from right-wing opponents. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, accused Burnham of abdicating responsibility toward elderly citizens by potentially scrapping the triple lock. Despite this, the Prime Minister clarified that the National Care Service would not launch until after the next general election, expected in 2029.
The speech comes as Labour faces increasing pressure from Reform UK, which recently surged to 25 percent in YouGov polling compared to Labour’s 24 percent. Nevertheless, delegates appeared energized by Burnham’s optimistic tone. Attendees described the address as “inspirational” and “authentic,” with business owner Ralitsa Vasilovska noting her appreciation for a leader willing to discuss unpopular but necessary measures.
Repealing Thatcher’s restrictions on water privatization is a step in the right direction, surely?
Sounds like another expensive promise. How does he plan to fund all this without raising taxes drastically?
I loved his honesty about his dad. You could feel how much this meant to him personally.
Finally, someone admitting Brexit was a mistake. I hope the EU consensus approach actually works this time.
The idea of a National Care Service is brave, but who is actually going to pay for it? £19 billion is a huge hole.