Andy Burnham’s first day as PM raises fresh doubts
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Andy Burnham has spent his first full day as Prime Minister chairing his inaugural Cabinet meeting in Downing Street, though the day did little to dispel concerns about his readiness for the role, with critics highlighting apparent contradictions in his early approach to governing. Rather than committing fully to a permanent northern presence, he split his time by basing himself at a Manchester site dubbed "No10 North", insisting the arrangement was "not a gimmick" despite a proper northern office not being due to open until 2032. He also faced criticism after publicly rebuking Health Secretary Wes Streeting over a "joke" about "letting all the prisoners out", amid wider public anger over the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers.
Scrutiny sharpened after Burnham told Cabinet that ministers must "always show how they are going to pay" for any new policy, a warning that came just hours after he had unveiled an £850 million energy bills support package which opponents say has not itself been properly funded. Separately, the Conservatives renewed pressure on Angela Rayner over a £17,000 matter, adding to the sense of a chaotic start for the new administration as it sought to establish its authority and priorities.
- Burnham held his first Cabinet meeting but faced credibility questions.
- Split time between No 10 and a Manchester "No10 North" office.
- Criticised over £850m energy package funding and a Streeting row.
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Andy Burnham became Prime Minister after a change of leadership, and his first days in office are being closely watched as an early test of how he intends to govern. Burnham was previously best known as the elected Mayor of Greater Manchester, a role that saw him build a reputation as a champion of the north of England, so his approach to balancing that regional identity with running the country from Westminster is of particular interest.
Angela Rayner is a senior political figure who resigned from a previous government role following controversy over her tax affairs, at which point she received a severance payment. She has since returned to a similar position, which is why questions are now being raised about whether that payment should be repaid.
These early episodes matter because they are shaping perceptions of Burnham's competence and consistency as he settles into the role of Prime Minister, at a time when the government is also dealing with the cost of living, including support for household energy bills.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Critics make a reasonable case that the day exposed genuine tensions in the new government's approach: announcing a costly energy support package hours before lecturing colleagues on fiscal discipline invites scrutiny about whether the administration has a coherent plan for paying its way, a legitimate concern for any opposition or commentator focused on economic credibility. Likewise, treating a joke about prisoner releases as worthy of public rebuke, at a time when the public is genuinely angry about violent offenders being freed early, reflects real sensitivity to an issue that touches victims and public safety directly. Raising questions about the practicality and cost of a symbolic northern base, when a fully resourced office is years away, is a fair test of whether style is outpacing substance in the early days of a premiership.
The case against
A sympathetic reading would note that first days in office are inevitably chaotic and are unfair yardsticks for a government's overall competence, since new administrations must simultaneously staff departments, set tone and respond to events without the benefit of hindsight. Basing himself partly in Manchester can reasonably be defended as a genuine, if imperfect, signal of commitment to rebalancing power away from Westminster, even before permanent infrastructure exists, rather than an empty gesture. Similarly, insisting minsters cost their policies is a prudent general principle for fiscal discipline, and applying it going forward need not be undermined by a single prior announcement made to address an urgent cost-of-living pressure; and taking a firm line on jokes about prisoner releases, given the raw public feeling around the Harper case, could reflect appropriate sensitivity and judgement rather than an overreaction.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “As Andy Burnham settles into Downing Street and holds a Cabinet meeting, why his first full day as PM fails to dispel doubts…”.