“We need to show the world that we can regain Britain’s stability,” Burnham said, adding that “we have not been good enough.”
Calling the change in government a turning point, Burnham said, “This moment will be a circuit breaker for Britain,” adding that politics under his leadership “will be more collaborative.”
Read more: The challenges facing UK’s next PM Andy Burnham
Outlining his domestic agenda, the new prime minister said his government would “build a new economy” and bring “life essentials” back under public control. He also pledged to use public procurement as a tool to “re-industrialise Britain.”
Burnham said the government would unveil a new 10-year plan later this year and announce measures to address the cost-of-living crisis starting Tuesday.
On foreign policy, Burnham said his first calls with world leaders would be to US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I will make clear to Zelensky today there will be no change in support for Ukraine,” Burnham said, signalling continuity in the UK’s backing for Kyiv despite the change in leadership.
