Prime Minister Andy Burnham will tell the Labour Party conference that his plan can «turn Britain around», in his first address to the party faithful as leader. The speech, expected to be delivered in Liverpool, is being framed by Downing Street as a decisive break from conventional Westminster politics, with Burnham vowing to end «politics as usual».
At the centre of the address is a pledge to hold an «honest conversation» with the public on difficult issues, alongside a raft of new policies on social care, youth unemployment, and public control of utilities. Burnham is expected to announce measures that would bring energy, water, and housing under greater public control, a significant extension of state involvement in sectors that have been largely privatised or market-led for decades.
The Prime Minister will also signal the end of the pension triple lock, a long-standing commitment that guarantees annual increases in the state pension by whichever is highest: inflation, average earnings, or 2.5 per cent. The move is likely to be presented as part of a broader effort to make the public finances sustainable and to redirect spending towards younger generations and struggling households. It represents a politically sensitive shift, given the triple lock's popularity among older voters.
Burnham's speech comes amid growing debate within Labour about Britain's post-Brexit relationship with the European Union. After Ed Miliband told the conference that Britain's future is at the heart of Europe, ministers have said it is «not if but how» the Prime Minister puts rejoining the EU in the next election manifesto. While Burnham is not expected to announce a formal rejoin policy in this address, his language on Europe is being closely watched by both pro-EU and eurosceptic factions within the party.
The conference, held in Liverpool, marks Burnham's first as Labour leader and Prime Minister, giving the speech added significance as a statement of his political direction. His emphasis on public control and honest debate is designed to contrast with what he characterises as the short-termism and managerialism of previous governments. By combining social care reform, youth employment measures, and utility renationalisation, Burnham is attempting to build a coherent narrative around active government and long-term investment.
However, the pension triple lock announcement risks alienating a key section of the electorate, and opposition parties are likely to seize on it as a tax on pensioners. Burnham's team will argue that the current system is unsustainable and that protecting the triple lock indefinitely would require cuts elsewhere or higher borrowing. The speech is also expected to address the cost-of-living pressures facing households, with the Prime Minister arguing that only a fundamental change in approach can deliver lasting security.
As Labour gathers in Liverpool, the speech will be scrutinised for how far Burnham is willing to go in reshaping both his party and the country's political consensus. His promise to end «politics as usual» sets a high bar, and the coming months will test whether his policies can deliver the «turnaround» he is promising.