Key facts
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to end long-term rough sleeping as his first act.
- An additional £340 million will be allocated over three years to fund homelessness initiatives.
- Burnham aims to provide immediate cost-of-living relief.
- John Healey has been appointed as the new chancellor.
- Burnham intends to present a 10-year 'new plan for Britain'.
Andy Burnham has begun his premiership by pledging to end long-term rough sleeping across the UK, allocating an additional £340 million over three years to fund the initiative. As Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade, Burnham aims to demonstrate that politics can work and improve living standards, moving quickly to address the cost-of-living crisis. He plans to announce measures to provide immediate relief, potentially including capping bus fares or reducing energy costs, and intends to unveil a 10-year 'new plan for Britain'. Burnham has appointed John Healey as his chancellor, and his administration seeks to regain voter trust after years of political instability. Early discussions included conversations with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.