Andy Burnham, in his first major interview since becoming prime minister, has signalled he will make benefits more conditional on recipients seeking work, as he attempts to cut the UK's welfare bill. This puts him on a collision course with left-wing Labour backbenchers who backed his rise to power, and echoes the political struggle his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer faced over the same issue.

Speaking to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg for Panorama, Burnham said support such as mental health help would in future be tied to people taking up work opportunities, though he stressed he did not want to blame claimants, particularly young people he felt had been let down by inadequate support. He kept Pat McFadden as work and pensions secretary despite leaked texts showing McFadden's frustration with colleagues over benefit spending, seen as a signal of Burnham's intent. Burnham also warned the NHS could "collapse" without substantial reform of social care, and separately said he would not call an early election, would challenge Donald Trump when in Britain's interest, and was seeking up to £13bn to meet the UK's 3% GDP defence spending target.