Prime Minister Burnham - Labour's last hope?
7/20/202638 min
This week started like so many others - with a brand new British Prime Minister. At least Andy Burnham had the grace to acknowledge the speed with which this keeps happening, as he promised to end the circus (ie. stay longer in the job).
As the afternoon drew to a close we still had no clear idea of the shape of his cabinet - only those being sacked from it. It could signal a leak-proof government - or does it speak to difficulties in getting the right people to accept their new roles? All should be revealed shortly. One thing is for sure, Labour is praying that Burnham gets this right. There is a general consensus that the party can't roll the dice again.
And what of Keir Starmer leaving Downing Street with what he insisted was a smile on his face? Does every political career end in failure and tears - or does real political legacy begin twenty years after the event?
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsDonald Trump· Soundbite0:00
[upbeat music] This is a global production Is Burnham serious about the idea of doing government differently and rewiring the British state?
Emily Maitlis· Host0:10
Essentially, he's saying, "I know we keep changing PM, but let's not do that anymore."
Jon Sopel· Host0:15
Andy Burnham coming in and doing something very differently and a hell of a lot better. Now, maybe we've just come to accept that things are meant to be crap. The question is, does Burnham have a different prescription?
Andy Burnham· Soundbite0:27
[clapping] It's about putting the right values and the right standards at the heart of government. I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do. I will give this my all, and I ask you all to pull with me. Let's build a new national sense of unity, of common purpose, and positivity. Let us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again, the moment we bring back hope. Thank you very much, everybody.
Jon Sopel· Host1:09
The great applause in Downing Street, Andy Burnham makes his first speech as Prime Minister. No notes, no lectern, communicating directly to the British people down a camera lens.
Emily Maitlis· Host1:23
He's searching for that Obama vibe, isn't he? But what will the Burnham premiership look like? What will it