Burnham Vows to End ‘Politics as Usual’ in First Conference Speech as PM

LIVERPOOL — Prime Minister Andy Burnham will tell the Labour Party conference on Tuesday that hope for Britain “comes from honesty”, pledging to end “politics as usual” in his first conference speech as leader.

According to extracts released by his office, Burnham will promise an “honest conversation” about the trade-offs needed to fix some of the country’s deepest problems, including social care and the public control of utilities.

“We can’t carry on as we are. Politics as usual has taken Britain backwards,” he is expected to say, according to Reuters.

Echoing the conference slogan “Hope again”, the former Greater Manchester mayor will say hope comes “from saying the things politicians usually avoid”. He will also announce a new publicly-owned “Great British Grid” body, aimed at bringing UK energy costs into line with other European countries within a decade, and set out plans for free social care in England and measures to tackle youth unemployment.

The speech comes amid speculation that the pensions triple lock could be reformed to help fund social care — a move union leaders have warned could be “electoral suicide”. Cabinet ministers are split, with the defence secretary repeatedly refusing to rule out changes, according to media reports.

Burnham, who replaced Keir Starmer as prime minister in July, has faced pressure to offer more detailed plans beyond early measures such as capping bus fares and removing VAT from electricity bills.

Sources

• Reuters — “Burnham offers Britain an ‘honest conversation’ on tackling problems”: https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/burnham-offers-britain-an-honest-conversation-tackling-problems-2026-09-28/
• PA via Leigh Journal — “Burnham vows to end ‘politics as usual’ in first Labour leader conference speech”: https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/news/national/26589239.burnham-vows-end-politics-usual-first-labour-leader-conference-speech/