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Andy Burnham is now Prime Minister after being invited by the King to form a government at Buckingham Palace. Speaking outside No 10 without notes or a lectern, Burnham vowed to “bring forward the biggest changes in the last 40 years.” LBC callers share their verdict on the UK's new Prime Minister. 00:00 Andy Burnham delivers his first speech as Prime Minister 00:28 'A lot of people don’t feel hope', says caller Stewart, telling Aasmah Mir that 'people just want to see action' 04:01 Listener Andrew says he 'cannot wait for the Andy and Donald show' 04:13 Andrew texts in to say he is pleased with Burnham's focus on council housing 04:21 Listener Barry says he can already see grey hairs on the new PM 04:42 Caller Anthony found Burnham's speech 'a little underwhelming' and think he will struggle navigating Trump 07:46 Steph, who has been voting labour for 44 years, believes Andy Burnham is a 'backstabber' 12:36 Jan says she has been waiting for this moment for 11 years 15:11 Listener Mark says we are expecting 'Amazon Prime politics' and we need to be patient with Burnham 15:39 Caller John wishes Andy all the best but questions how he will actually end homelessness 17:55 Stel doesn't agree with Steph calling Burnham a 'backstabber' Listen to the full show on the all-new LBC App: https://app.af.lbc.co.uk/btnc/thenewlbcapp #andyburnham #primeminister #keirstarmer #donaldtrump #debate #uknews #ukpolitics #politics #news #LBC LBC is the home of live debate around news and current affairs in the UK. Join in the conversation and listen at https://www.lbc.co.uk/ Sign up to LBC’s weekly newsletter here: https://l-bc.co/signup
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0:00
I have accepted His Majesty the King's invitation to form a government
0:06
We have not been good enough and we need to be better
0:10
I will bring forward a new plan for Britain, a 10-year plan
0:17
I will soon go through that door behind me and issue my first instruction
0:22
to end rough sleeping in our country. Stuart in Kirby Lonsdale in Lancashire is the first caller
0:33
Hi Stuart. Hi Asma, how are you? I'm okay. Are you feeling optimistic or pessimistic
0:38
Actually, you know what? I was sitting watching it and I think maybe a mix of the blanket sunshine
0:49
and the cheers and the infectious smile. and this is coming from someone who's probably forever the pessimist
0:58
actually I felt quite sort of teary watching it actually and I think I felt teary because I actually felt
1:06
we so need hope we really need something to believe in and I, regardless of how Andy actually enables it
1:17
and makes it happen I kind of felt like somehow and I haven't really followed Andy all that much
1:24
but have been a bit more recently, I felt a real sense of relief
1:29
I felt a sense of, thank God there's someone there who's going to give this a real go, and I think he will
1:37
And in terms of a general election, I can sort of understand the point on that
1:41
And I actually think there might be a lot of people who might just be thinking
1:47
let's just get them to crack on with it. Just get going
1:52
and there is a, I do feel like we're running a bit short on time
1:55
but it was quite a relief, I felt and it was, I was teary, I felt the last time I felt that
2:01
was when I was living in New Zealand and Jacinda Ardern got in
2:06
sort of last minute as leader of the Labour Party and won her first general election
2:12
and maybe back in the 90s when New Labour kind of got in
2:19
and I would have been in my early 20s showing my age. And I felt a sense of hope and optimism there
2:26
Well, not that lasted or not, it's a different question, but I thought, thank God
2:31
Interesting. Stuart, just before you go, what do you think Andy Burnham
2:35
needs to avoid doing? You know, obviously Keir Starmer did some good things
2:40
I feel sorry for the guy. He feels like a decent guy, but he made a lot of mistakes. So what do you think are the main things
2:46
that Andy Burnham needs to watch out for and not repeat? He needs to be bold and act fast. And that's what didn't happen when Labour got in under Stormer. They had that mandate and they should really have been bolder and maybe made some decisions that wouldn't have pleased everyone, but actually decisions that benefit the working class, the struggling middle class in Britain
3:13
he needs to get directly to the core issues that people are feeling on a day-to-day basis
3:18
because a lot of people don't feel hope. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely, 100%
3:25
If he can drive that forward and maybe not get caught in that trap
3:31
of worrying about every single minute of what he says in front of the press
3:37
I think if he can come across as himself and be able to back his decisions up
3:43
with some really good rationale and just get on with it. I think people would be happy with that
3:48
People don't expect their leaders at that level to be justifying everything they do
3:53
They just want to see action. Get on with it. Do it
3:58
Let's see what happens. Well, let's see what happens indeed. Andrew says
4:02
I cannot wait for the Andy and Donald show with Donald Trump. The reason why I want Keir Starmer to have remained
4:08
was because of how he handled the erratic baby in the White House
4:13
Richard, I'm pleased that Mr Burnham is going to focus on building council homes
4:17
but the policy can only fully work if he scraps the stupid right to buy scheme
4:22
And Barry helpfully notes that he can see a few grey hairs already on our new PM
4:30
Well, it is a very stressful job indeed. 03456060973. And hello to you if you are watching us live on the LBC app
4:38
on Global Player or on YouTube, of course. Right, let's go to the phones to Anthony, who's in Egham in Surrey
4:46
Hi, Anthony. What was your reaction as you watched or listened to Andy Burnham
4:50
standing outside Downing Street? Well, hi there, Asma. Nice to speak to you
4:55
As you said, it was a little underwhelming because if one can remember as far back as Blair coming in
5:00
it was like the second coming, you know. It was almost apocalyptic, a change, you know
5:06
But with Andy Burnham, it's a feeling of, you know, just another one. my first impressions are at least it sunny because I know when Starmer came in it was a drizzly day That didn seem to be a good omen So perhaps that is a good thing Well let hope so
5:22
Yes. And the other slightly positive thing is he's a clean sheet, because he hasn't been tainted, at least to date, by the scandal that afflicted Starmer
5:31
So he's come in sort of really almost with a clean slate, and we hope that he does succeed
5:37
However, I'm going to now strike a slightly gloomy note in that I think he will struggle
5:42
because he speaks about this so-called new economic model. What the hell is it
5:46
Because, you know, you can't come in after 40 years of satirism and just tear all that up
5:52
The state is kind of, it's enmeshed into the fabric of the country
5:57
So you're going to have to do some pretty huge reforms. And when you have the time to do them, you know, undoing all the things
6:02
not just the privatisations of utilities, but the way that so much of what even government does
6:07
is run by private firms like Capita and so on. But Anthony, do you think it's incumbent upon us
6:14
people like you, people like me, everyone, to actually give Andy Burnham the time
6:19
to turn everything on his head if that's what he thinks it's going to take
6:24
Yes, definitely. But we've seen so often that the wheels start coming off
6:29
quite early on as it did with Starmer. and he seems to swerve so many of these crises
6:36
And I hope this doesn't happen to him. When Tony Blair was at Eccleston's scandal early on
6:40
it seemed he was untouchable at the start. So I hope this doesn't happen and that he can give him a chance at least
6:45
and for this to go to the electorate to, you know, endorse his program or not
6:50
But so often we've seen, I mean, his wife bears a slight resemblance to Liz Truss
6:55
What? Oh, come on. Number one, no, there's no. And number two, what does that mean if there is
7:05
Well, I don't know. I don't know if the power is behind the throne of that partnership
7:09
You see, I'm wondering if she's another Cherie Blair. We've got the Liverpool collection
7:14
But on a more serious note, Asma, yes, I think he will struggle
7:18
especially, as someone mentioned before, the big orange blob, because he's yet to encounter him
7:23
And we've seen him firmly a pattern there, haven't we? The initial sort of buddy-buddy act
7:27
Yeah, well, Donald Trump's very happy with him so far, isn't he? He's posted on Truth Social that Andy Burnham is going to open up the North Sea
7:33
and people are dancing in the streets of Aberdeen. Perhaps he thinks he's Scottish
7:38
Perhaps he thinks, again, Andy, that he's Scottish. Maybe. He can play on that for a while
7:43
OK, Anthony, thank you very much for that. Let's speak to Steph, who's in Peterborough
7:48
Hi, Steph. Are you feeling hopeful? No. Oh, no. It's my fault
7:55
I've made everyone feel gloomy. No, no, no, no. I'm one of the old guard Labour voters
8:00
I've been voting Labour for 44 years. I was a member until a couple of weeks ago
8:07
And I don't know if you look on social media much, but a lot of people are fuming what's happened with this coup from Burnham
8:15
Yeah, of course. Now, I need to say that here's... I don't want to get upset because many people think the world of the guy
8:25
He's only had two years. look what he's done in two years and the thing is look how good the nhs is look how things have
8:35
been turned around with defense because at the end of the day our defense was smaller than it
8:42
was in the napoleonic wars in 2023 2024 people go on about the winter fuel thing but he gave an
8:50
alternative through the household support fund but i'll tell you what the main problem is is the comms
8:55
team because they have been absolutely appalling and people like myself and thousands and thousands
9:04
of people who do are probably more centre-left like myself we are proper labour and I'm telling
9:11
what's going to happen it's going to be the same thing that Keir's gone through with reform being
9:18
like they are making up the things about him with the grooming gangs people seem to forget that
9:23
They're blaming him for that. He's going to get the same from his backbenchers who want Corbyn back
9:28
because they did it to Keir because Keir removed Corbyn. So there's a lot of rumours where they're saying they want Corbyn back
9:40
Sorry, I'm trying to speak as quick as I can. No, no, it's all right. There's no rush. There's no rush there
9:44
You know, it's heartbreaking because I wanted Andy Burnham as a Labour leader in 2015
9:51
I wanted Andy Burnham as leader in 2017. I still wanted Andy Burnham to lead the party
9:59
but it's disgusting what has happened because he should have shown Keir some respect
10:05
and win Makerfield and be part of Keir's cabinet to shadow Keir as such
10:13
make Andy deputy leader so he can go in and learn the ropes
10:17
But no, they had to kick him out. after everything he's done
10:22
And the problem is, is not so much LBC, but I cannot sit here
10:28
stand here in the garden and go through every policy because there hundreds And you know I post on Facebook I mean the immigration stop the boats
10:41
Those people will not stop. People hate Muslims. People hate people with brown skin
10:48
Well, some people do. Yeah, well, but the thing is, he is going to have this from the reform
10:54
and also from the choice because Kimmy Badnock has changed into, and I've got to be careful what word I use
11:03
Yes, please, please be careful. She's trying to outform reform. How's that
11:10
You think, OK, right. Well, you think she's more reform than reform. OK, I'm sure she..
11:14
No, no, no. The way she's dealing with immigration, the things she's saying about people... OK
11:19
Steph, listen, I am more interested in talking about Andy Burnham. You said at the beginning of the call
11:24
you said that you're no longer a member of the Labour Party
11:29
No, and so are hundreds, probably thousands of us, because we don't, although, I mean, me personally
11:36
because I'm one of the older voters, I mean, I'm 61, but, you know, other people my age
11:43
they used to think the world of Andy. I did. I saw him as a prime minister
11:48
but I don't like the fact that Hal Keir was stabbed in the back
11:51
I don't like the fact that Josh Simon stood by he should have
11:56
yes won Makerfield but he should have stood by Keir for at least another year
12:02
to 18 months to gradually learn what's going on So what do you think of Andy Burnham now then
12:07
You say you used to like the guy you voted for him twice as leader of the Labour Party
12:12
what do you think of him now? He's a backstabber Right I thought you might say that
12:17
Steph thank you very much for that that is Steph and Peterborough we want to you know
12:21
represent everyone here and that is a view that is held by a lot of people who are you know members
12:27
of the Labour Party or perhaps have just given up so how crucial is that going to be in terms of
12:34
support for Andy Burnham. Jan is in Hammersmith, hi Jan. Hi, well I totally absolutely I was in tears
12:43
at Andy's speech. I thought it was something I've been 11 years I've been waiting to hear this
12:50
11 long years. I got to know the man quite well when I was a campaigner
12:58
or part of the Save Charing Cross Hospital campaign. His wife is a lovely lady, and I don't understand
13:05
Already the knives are out. She looks like Liz Truss. She's had cancer
13:11
People don't know that. Andy Burnham gives so much of his salary to charity
13:16
People don't know that. He is a very committed Christian. He's got a real caring, a real deep faith for people
13:24
He cares for people. And if people can be patient so that our young have a chance, i.e. building more council houses, people need shelter
13:37
It shouldn't be a safety deposit box for the rich. People need a home
13:41
They need a job. They need to know their health is okay. And from that, then you've got money to go out and enjoy your life and have fun
13:49
and the economy starts to lift. But if you don't put the basics in
13:54
which happened in 1945, we took this country out of extreme poverty
14:01
workhouses, slum dwellings, and people just want to trash it all on the backs of some pride
14:09
I've always supported Labour. I will go with whatever leader. I don't always agree with their policies, okay
14:19
I'm not, you know, Keir Starmer is a nice man. I've met him
14:23
He's a decent man. Okay. So what did he get wrong? He's too, he was too clumsy for the job
14:31
He couldn't read how people are feeling after all these years of going through the Tories
14:36
and going through the hell coming out of COVID. People are really, really broken
14:43
And when we talk about our younger mental health, when they have no prospects
14:49
Never mind older, older people. I mean, there's people in their 30s and older who cannot afford to buy properties
14:58
Men are having to live at home with their parents in their droves
15:01
Not just a few thousand, millions. What hope is that for them to have a family, to have a life, to have their privacy
15:09
Things have got to change. OK, Mark has got in touch. The problem is everyone, including you, Law, has just stated on air, you want Amazon Prime Politics
15:18
You can't order it before 9am for same day delivery with politics
15:23
Washing machines, perhaps, but not politics. It's unreasonable. And this is why we churn them out so quickly
15:30
Give them a chance, says Mark in Leeds. 03456060973. And let's speak to John, who is in Glasgow
15:38
Hi, John. Hello, Asma. Nice to speak to you. Can I wish Andy Vernon all the best Of course I do hope he a success for the English parliament But that just coming to the point I want to make actually is that his pronouncements
16:02
so far, he's made a noble pronouncement that he wants to end homelessness. Yeah
16:07
Now, how is he going to do that? needs the cooperation of local councils, for instance, and he wants to devolve power to
16:18
local councils and areas. And if those areas are controlled by reform or opposition parties
16:30
will we carry his agenda? Well, I mean, I would presume, I don't know, but I presume that reform would want to end
16:39
rough sleeping too. Nobody wants rough sleeping, do they? Absolutely. No, but it's not saying Nigel Farage's agenda, is it
16:50
Well, I don't know. I don't know whether it's his agenda or not. I don't know whether he's opposed to ending rough sleeping. I mean, I can't speak on his behalf. But anyway, what
16:57
other kind of wider point do you want to make about Andy Burnham
17:01
Well, I think so far everyone's getting very excited about him. But it hasn't proved anything
17:09
In Manchester, he did make a difference in terms of what Rapsley thinks
17:15
I give him that. But he had control over the levers for to do that now
17:22
And he attracted inward investment into Manchester. But it's a different thing when it's a country
17:32
It's a very different thing. A different skill set. I really do kind of worry that if he doesn't make a success of this
17:44
he'll end up with a reformed government in three years. Right. Well, a lot of people are saying that he needs to be given the time, John
17:51
We will see whether he is given the time. John, thank you for that. Stell is in Wilsdon Green in London
17:57
Hi, Stell. Oh, hi, Edna. What do you think then? Well, I'm quite pleased that Andy Burnham is in
18:04
I've kind of listened to some of the comments from the other Labour or the ex-Labour voters about him being a backstabber, which is a shame, really, because when it comes to Keir Starmer, there's absolutely no doubt he has done an awful lot of good for the country
18:20
But unfortunately, his press, well, he lacked anything of press, you know, anything that he did well, got buried in the doom and gloom of reform
18:31
And I think the one thing that's good about Andy Burnham coming in, he poses a real threat to reform voters or certainly those who might be considering to vote reform
18:44
I think those who are held bent on voting reform, it doesn't matter who's in, they'll still vote reform
18:50
But there's those that perhaps that are teetering who are going to think twice now and they're going to give Burnham a chance and they're going to say, OK, let's see what you can do
19:00
And the one thing with Andy Burnham is he kind of resonates with the common person
19:07
You know, he kind of gets it. He talks about it. He's lived it. And it's not just a theatrics for him
19:13
It's a reality for him. He knows what it's like growing up, you know, sort of in a working class background, etc
19:20
But, you know, Keir Starmer never stopped talking about his working class background
19:24
No, Keir Starmer didn't. But Keir Starmer didn't come across as someone who was from a working class background
19:29
That's it. That's very interesting. It's about how you appear today as an adult
19:34
It's the perception. And I think those who might be, you know, sort of thinking about voting reform because there's nothing else to vote for
19:43
because the main parties in this country all seem and sound the same, I think Burnham's going to break that mould
19:50
I think Andy Burnham, he's got an opportunity now to demonstrate that there is a difference in how we go about our politics in this country
19:57
And that could win over a lot of doubters. That could win over a lot of people who might be thinking Labour and Tory are cut from the same cloth. So let's, you know, vote reform. But now those people, some of those people might be thinking, hang on, let's see what Andy Burnham can do. And I think that's quite interesting in how our politics could go
20:18
So he talks about, you know, being Andy Burnham is a little bit more left of center
20:26
I think I think we can all agree that that's probably his political style
20:31
And it's not a bad thing for this country to have proper left of center politics, you know, where, you know, everyone gets a chance to become better through the policies that are made by government
20:43
And he's got that opportunity now to sort of demonstrate that. Okay. Well, Stel, let's hope so. I love your optimism. And it's very interesting what you said about the perception of Andy Burnham. You know, someone who went to Cambridge, talked about all his imposter syndrome. But he is someone who does come across as relatable, more relatable than Keir Starmer
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