Up next in 10
Andy Burnham takes your calls live from the Labour party conference.
02:26 Meg asks how and when the Government will invest in Britain's protection following the RAF Fairford plot.
08:34 Lucy asks how social care will be funded and commissioned while ensuring quality care and sustainable careers.
11:52 Texter Daniel, who has spent thousands caring for his father, asks why Burnham is waiting to fix the 'broken' social care system.
12:29 Rachel asks how Burnham will support small independent UK businesses.
16:30 Burnham responds to texter Charlotte on delays to a third runway at Heathrow.
18:09 Steve asks why the PM is 'not listening' to villagers in Paddington as 1,200 single men are set to enter an asylum camp.
22:11 Lottie asks what Burnham will do about a generation of overqualified graduates facing a shrinking jobs market.
Listen to the full show on the all-new LBC App: https://app.af.lbc.co.uk/btnc/thenewlbcapp
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0:00
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister and, let's not forget, MP for Makerfield, joins me here at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool to take your calls
0:09
It won't surprise you to know that we're going to have to rattle through a lot of them because everybody is dying to ask you loads of questions
0:13
I don't mind. We'll get as many in as we can. And I might have one or two for you at the end as well
0:17
But listen, why do you want to do something like this? And what kind of message are you going to be bringing tomorrow
0:23
You've said over the weekend, by tomorrow, by the end of tomorrow when you've made that speech
0:28
and perhaps a bit today, people will know your vision. They'll know exactly the direction of travel of this country
0:34
I think it's what the country needs. We've had a decade of drift, division
0:39
It's not been good enough. Everybody feels that the country isn't where they would want it to be
0:43
Their lives are not where they would want them to be. The pressure's there for people
0:48
so what I am going to do is say here's how I think we should go forward in the next decade
0:55
and I will lay it out as clearly as I possibly can it will require some significant changes but
1:02
I'm doing it with the best of intentions I am coming into this job not just because I wanted
1:07
the job it's what I do with the job and what I think needs to be done to get the country back
1:10
where I want it to be I love it love the country I love the people of it I think they deserve better
1:16
Politics hasn't served them well for a long time. I'm going to say that
1:19
My generation of politicians, I would say, hasn't stepped up fully to the mark
1:24
and consequently the country isn't where it should be. But tomorrow is a big day
1:29
We can start to put it right and I'm going to try my best to do that. I like to think today's a big day as well
1:33
Well, this day's a big day. Always with you, Sheila, it's a big day. Well, this is a first because it's the first time
1:39
a sitting Prime Minister at conference has taken calls from the public
1:44
Well, that's good. I'm glad to do that. I always take my power from the public
1:48
That's the way I've always been as a politician. You know, you can't come from a city like this, Sheila, you and I
1:53
and not work that way. People wouldn't have it any other way, would they, in this place
1:57
So I always, you know, and I'm sure there'll be some, you know
2:01
some feisty calls, but, you know, I like that, and that's how I work
2:05
I often, I said to somebody, you know, pick up straws in the wind from what people say
2:09
and what little words they use. So that's, you know, I do listen carefully, and I'll see what this afternoon brings
2:15
Well, listen, for your sake, I hope they're only straws in the next half an hour. Listen, in light of events in RAF Fairford, let's start with Defence
2:24
Meg has called from Hereford. Hello, Meg. Hi, Prime Minister. Hi, Meg
2:29
I support your desire to rebuild Britain from the inside out, but defending it from the outside in is just as important
2:36
Defence budgets rise, yet our armed forces' personnel figures decline. HMS Dragon exposed readiness crashes
2:42
and projects such as NICS and the recently announced National Centre for Information Defence are critical
2:48
but they don't shield us today from the hybrid warfare that John Healy has warned us about already
2:54
RAF Fairford is just one aspect of the threat that we now face. So, when will you invest in our protection and how will that investment deliver the immediate ability to respond that Britain needs
3:06
Well, thank you very much, Meg. You're asking a question that is on the minds of a lot of people
3:11
because everybody can feel the world changing and we cannot do anything other than put national security
3:18
right at the top of our priorities. So I inherited a defence investment plan
3:24
It's a good plan, but there was a shortfall, but I will make that good
3:29
We will make sure we have a fully funded plan. And of course, we will need to go further to honour our NATO commitments
3:36
Well, we've got 2030. We have a commitment 2035. And what I'll set out tomorrow is how we do that
3:42
how we change things so that we can make the necessary investment in defence
3:48
I think you are right at the start of your call to use a theme that I used in the Commons recently
3:53
that it can't be a case of choosing between social security, and I use that phrase in the old-fashioned sense, and national security
4:01
Resilience is built from the ground up. You know, if we have lots of young people out of work
4:05
They're maybe at risk from being involved in things that might harm security at a local level or national security if people are trying to manipulate the country, as I said at the UN last week
4:19
So you've got to see these two things together, social security building up to national security
4:24
On Fairford, if I could just say, Sheila, it's obviously a live investigation
4:30
So there is a limit to what I can say about it. I want to thank the police, the Gloucestershire police, the security services, the emergency services, the public who alerted us
4:42
So thank you to everybody for the way that they've worked. What I can say is that I will chair a meeting of COBRA later this afternoon just to make sure we have the full picture, the full situation very clearly in our sights
4:59
And so maybe we'll say more about that later today. Well, there is, and again, you know, the investigations are going, I understand the limitations, but you know, you are a man via the Hillsborough story known for wanting as much transparency as possible in your dealings with the British public as an MP, as a minister and now as prime minister
5:17
on defence, when we have a situation and this isn't the only one, Fairford isn't the only
5:21
example, when we've got examples of hostile foreign states individually and sometimes jointly
5:27
attacking either us or our interests they want to know more sooner than 2030, 2035
5:34
about 3% GDP and 3.5% I think they want a sense of urgency, that's what comes through from the calls
5:39
and I think it's coming through from Meg Yes, I get that and I heard it
5:43
in Meg's voice, she's very well informed about the situation and we will give people that clarity obviously we've got to um do it properly
5:52
and make sure whenever we say something it can be fully funded uh we will say more on defense
5:57
funding at the budget so that's a month away today so you won't be giving us any more on that
6:01
tomorrow particularly i know you're going to focus a lot i will mention defense uh tomorrow and all of these things need to be seen together because we're going to have to fund
6:08
a lot of priorities there's a lot that does need fixing in the country um and i will say more about
6:14
all of those things, but how they all fit together. And it shouldn't be a choice, in my view, Sheila
6:18
that you choose one but then pay for it by, if you like
6:23
leaving another very short. Can I just, just before we move on to social care
6:29
can I ask you on that, though? John Healy was the Defence Secretary. He resigned as Defence Secretary under Keir Starmer
6:34
because he said he and the Chancellor were unwilling or unable to do more
6:41
Does that mean he and you together are certainly going to do more and sooner When I appointed John Healy as Chancellor of the Exchequer I was very clear about his position on defence investment And indeed
6:56
I appointed him for that reason. And for the reason that you and Meg are pushing me on today
7:02
there can be no sense that Britain is unprepared in a very challenging world. We are investing
7:08
in defence. It's important to say we are still the third largest contributor to NATO and we will be
7:14
over the next four years. And have already increased under Keir Starmer. Yes, and to Keir's credit
7:20
already found more money for defence. So, you know, we're in a position of strength, to be honest
7:26
when it comes to the rest of the world. We've always honoured our commitments, but we recognise
7:31
we need to go further. We will go further and we will make sure that defence investment plan is fully
7:36
funded at the budget but but also we know we need to go beyond that too. There are questions as to
7:43
whether Fairford was Iranian and I'll leave it here in a minute but Ed Miliband the foreign
7:48
secretary is coming under a great deal of criticism for having met the foreign minister of the Iranian
7:52
regime recently. Was he right to? We can only solve the Middle East conflict if there is dialogue
8:00
between the different sides and I'm sure we'll probably come on to talk about the cost of living
8:05
this afternoon, Sheila, with diesel and fuel where it is. And I know many people struggling with it going over £2 a litre
8:13
That's obviously a hard situation. We cannot deal with those pressures unless we get a resolution
8:20
to matters in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz reopened, the conflict ended
8:25
That has to be our goal. And diplomacy internationally is hard at times
8:31
but you do have to talk if you want to resolve those things. Lucy's call from Liverpool
8:35
Hi, Lucy. Hello. Good afternoon, Prime Minister. I run a national home care company, Right at Home UK
8:40
and I just want to start by saying thank you for putting social care so high on the agenda earlier in your premiership
8:46
You've talked about a national care service that's preventative, person-centred, and ultimately supports people at home wherever possible
8:53
What I'm interested to understand, with the NHS under sustained pressure, how will you ensure funding and commissioning enable quality
9:01
and continuity at home whilst making care properly valued and sustainable career
9:07
Well, Lucy, you've put it very well. I think we've got to start in the home
9:12
and provide the highest quality care that we can. And speaking from recent experience
9:19
I think people may know I sadly lost my dad recently. And the care, obviously, it's not the people
9:27
I wouldn't for one minute, Sheila, say it's the people. They were brilliant, actually
9:32
And they came from all over the world, it's important to say as well the care was brilliant it's this system that's letting them
9:37
down you cannot deliver a care system of quality in 15 minute slots you just can't because the
9:45
minute people's needs get beyond the simple and head towards the more moderate or even severe then
9:51
you know things just completely break down and then the labyrinthine places you have to go to
9:56
try and get the right kind of care is difficult as well isn't it exactly but also the system then
10:01
if you like, draws people towards the hospital. And it becomes very hard then to stop that process once it's underway
10:09
You know, the 999 calls that the staff are told to make
10:13
if there's the slightest problem, and then just offload onto the NHS. That's not sustainable in the long run
10:18
I made the point on the BBC yesterday. If we allow failing social care to collapse
10:24
it will drag the National Health Service down with it. And already we could say that corridor care is an everyday reality
10:31
in the NHS and social care is a large driver of that. So what Lucy said, I agree with so much
10:37
The highest quality social care in people's homes, everyday care with people delivering it
10:43
who are properly trained and properly rewarded. You know, to me, I look at what I saw
10:51
and I see a workforce totally dedicated to what they did, you know, doing it with huge warmth, humour, compassion
11:00
humanity, unbelievable, but they're holding a threadbare system together. And the idea that
11:05
people should give their life to care for other people's parents on poverty pay is quite an
11:10
indictment, actually, I have to say, of a generation of politicians. Will you look again at the rules
11:15
on visas and families for carers? Because we need the carers. Clearly, we need them as well as paying
11:20
them well. We need them. We do indeed. And the Home Office have been doing a consultation on that
11:25
very subject so we will clearly be giving very careful thought to the responses that we've
11:32
received it has brought a lot of interest but i do see there are lots of people working in our
11:39
care system who've come from abroad i think it's really important that we say to them that we
11:44
recognize what they are doing day in day out we could not do without them the care system may well
11:50
not not function were they not there well daniel in hartley puller sent a text to you
11:54
prime anesthesiist i'm on the hook for thousands of pounds because of my dad's care you're not going
11:59
to be able to deliver anything for me now this is urgent please act don't wait why wait fixing a
12:05
broken system you're talking about 2029 an election manifesto proposal that's three years for daniel
12:12
he hasn't got three years and his dad might not i get it daniel i hear you um i've just got to work
12:17
within a manifesto that i inherited and i think people would understand when i said that sheila i
12:24
want to restore trust in politics. I will give a very honest conference speech tomorrow
12:30
Here from Rachel in Oxford now on the cost of Liverpool, the cost of living in Liverpool and
12:35
everywhere else. Rachel. Hi, Andy. I own my own independent accounting firm. And so I work with
12:42
lots of small and independent UK businesses. And the Labour manifesto promised not to raise taxes
12:47
for working people. But during the Labour government, we've seen dividend taxes increased
12:52
increase in national insurance rates, rising fuel, rising energy bills and rising inflation
12:56
How will you help small and independent businesses in the UK and small businesses struggling
13:01
when they feel like that pressure is coming from all angles? Yeah, I very much hear what you're saying
13:07
It's why the Chancellor, alongside cost of living, Sheila, now always adds cost of business
13:14
And we want to make sure that we're always talking about that
13:17
to show you that we do understand what you've just described. There is a limit. There is obviously a challenging fiscal position that we are dealing with as
13:29
we head towards the budget But within that we are trying to do things that will help people with the cost of business So I hear what you saying We want to get business in a position where you feel hopeful again about the future
13:44
where you feel confidence to invest, to recruit. And we know we've got some work to do on that front
13:50
How much energy are you and your closest colleagues expending on getting trust back from businesses
13:54
after that NI additional tax? I spend a lot of time with them and it's been good to do that at this conference
14:01
I realise there's work to be done there. And my whole pitch is very much about we need everybody pulling together in the same direction
14:11
That's how we'll get the country back to where it should be. And that means business feeling engaged, feeling heard, not in a position where they're going to say
14:20
well, we would like to, but you've just done this. We have to listen very carefully to their voice right now
14:26
I believe I'm coming in as Prime Minister at a really critical moment for the country
14:32
A lot of people say to me, you know, you're going to have to make this work and we need you to make it work
14:36
And I don't always vote for you. That's a common thing that people say because we just have to have a sense of Britain moving beyond this constant turbulence, this uncertainty
14:47
And I will lay out, as I say again, Sheila, I will lay out a very clear path for the country tomorrow
14:53
and it won't do the usual conference thing, perhaps of just going for the big attack lines on the others
15:00
and the rabbits out of the hat. I will say things of substance
15:05
but I am trying to speak to your listeners today and tomorrow
15:11
in really understanding where they are, giving a speech of substance that then people will then be able to hear
15:18
and decide whether they think it is the right direction for the country. On business costs, on almost any measure
15:23
energy costs affect business costs. Tonight, seven o'clock UK time, we expect Donald Trump to
15:29
make an announcement of sorts. It might be, we don't know for sure that it will be, but it might
15:34
be about that proposed diesel export ban. A couple of questions. Did you discuss it with him when you
15:40
were there last week? Because if he announces it, that's very bad news for businesses in Britain
15:45
and people in Britain. Would you look for some kind of exemption from it for the UK
15:50
We discussed the Middle East situation in detail, as you might imagine
15:57
So obviously I can't say a great deal more about that conversation because that wasn't in the public realm
16:04
But we were talking about all issues related to the supply of goods coming through the Middle East
16:10
and obviously any actions taken in return. So we're on it. We're working closely with the US as we are over the situation at RRF
16:20
AF Fairford. In the way that we did with tariffs, you'd hope to get some kind of different deal
16:24
would you, for the UK if he announces a ban? Always, we do make that case all of the time
16:30
Charlotte in Blackpool, she wants to put a question to you. Oh, my apologies, it's a text
16:34
I'll read it. You're a straight-talking, decisive guy, she says, Prime Minister, but I was left
16:39
scratching my head yesterday at your answer on Heathrow's third runway. We need growth in this
16:45
country, this project could drive that growth. Do you want a third runway to go ahead? Yes or no
16:52
And it is not just a matter for London. No, that's true. It's not just a matter for London. And yes
16:58
I'm happy to make that clear. It is a big decision. The reason why sometimes politicians do have to do
17:06
this, oh, I can't give you a straight answer, is it's a live consultation and potentially planning
17:14
application which takes it into a different space because those issues will have to be
17:19
looked at carefully and the reason why I am a little reticent is because there are quite strong
17:25
views on on either side you know there's you know very significant difference of opinion on the whole
17:33
on the whole matter so people need to have the sense that these issues are going to be looked at
17:37
independently fairly and obviously that's something that I need to respect in making
17:43
my comments on the situation. Right. For now, when do you get a sense you might have something
17:47
more substantial to say about? Well, there's no live planning application yet. The consultation
17:53
has just closed. That has to be now looked at and the range of views expressed as part of it
18:01
So there's some way to go yet on this one. I do need to make sure that I don't prejudice the
18:08
process. Let's talk to Steve in Upper Arncote who wants to talk to you about asylum seekers. Steve, put your question
18:14
to Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Hi, good afternoon Prime Minister. Hi Steve
18:20
I'm ex-forcers and I live in a village of Arncote which is a 10 minute walk away
18:24
from the main gate, so they count there supposedly about 1,200 single males
18:29
My son Jackson, his life's going to change. He's not going to be able to go for a walk in the pub, in the
18:34
woods or go to the park on his own, along with a lot of other children in the village
18:38
women, young girls, they weren't able to walk around. So I want to know why you're not listening to the villagers
18:43
and also why are you allowing 1,200 single males to wander around unsupervised and not monitored
18:50
They should be confined to barracks. Why are they not going to be? The village he's talking about is Piddington
18:55
He lives on the edges. Yes, yeah, I was guessing that it was. So thank you, Steve, for your question
19:02
Obviously, this comes from the need to end the use of hotels
19:06
which was a big call from people a few years ago. And as we do that, we do have to look for alternative forms of accommodation
19:15
Now, you said, why won't I listen? I do listen, and I have been asking questions of the Home Office
19:21
about the precise arrangements related to this particular location, but also to others as well, where we have legitimate concerns
19:32
Obviously, measures must be put in place to ensure that things can be managed properly and safely
19:38
So I am going through those things at the moment. But it is the case that we have to deal with this issue in a way that is, if you like, fair to everywhere
19:51
But I understand the points that you're making. Overall, there is better news in that the number of crossings is down 50%
20:00
the number of returns of people with no right to be here is up so there is a grip that the
20:06
Home Secretary is establishing over this situation. We are relentless in looking at where we can
20:13
go further I realise it difficult from your perspective I am looking at those issues but I wouldn want to give you the impression today on this call that you know it can simply be can be cancelled because we not in that position at the moment
20:30
Can I ask you about indefinite leave to remain? We had a caller earlier on who was one year away from getting settled status
20:35
That could become nine years overnight because of Labour policy. Angela Rayner has said she has more than qualms about it, serious qualms about it
20:44
shabana mahoud says it stays are you on either team are you team mahoud team reyna is that an
20:51
impossible question there's a it is a no i'm both of them i'm a team angela and shabana um but
20:58
it just reflects that there's a consultation and there's different um not just opinions from
21:05
politicians but obviously there's a range of views that have gone into that consultation
21:09
So we're in the process now of looking at that. It might not happen, because Angela Rennes describes it as un-British
21:16
Well, no, I wouldn't put it that way. I think what we've got to do is strike the right balance
21:21
and that's what the end result of the consultation will be. Balaclava ban
21:30
Well, I don't like the scenes that I've seen in recent weeks
21:34
people wearing black balaclavas, black clothing on British streets. You don't want to necessarily reach for extreme measures
21:44
but when people are causing fear and intimidation in communities, you have to prevent them doing that
21:54
So I wouldn't want to leap to what you're saying. It can be the case that you have localised provisions
22:02
where there's an ongoing problem. But I don't want to see a Britain where people are wandering around the streets
22:09
causing fear with black balaclavas on. Lottie has called from Manchester to talk about NEATS
22:14
Lottie, far away. Hi Andy. So, you had a free education and graduated at a time
22:21
when a degree was widely seen as a root opportunity. I graduated in 2025 and had to apply to over 100 jobs
22:28
and move cities to get a grad role. I still consider myself lucky because so many graduates can't find a job at all
22:34
My generation did what we were told. We worked hard, got the grades and went to university
22:40
Putting more funding towards apprenticeships isn't going to help us. What are you going to do about my generation of overqualified grads
22:47
in the job markets of decreasing grad roles? Well, thank you. Lottie was the quote
22:53
Lottie, yes. Yeah, Lottie, thank you. And I very much feel for you
22:59
It was a bit like that for us. I'm not saying on the financing of education
23:03
In the early 90s, I graduated then and went back to Manchester to try and find a job
23:09
My first job, Sheila, out of university was as an unpaid reporter on the Middleton Guardian
23:14
Well done, you. Do you want to know what mine was? Go on. Phone-in girl on This Morning in the Albert Dock
23:19
I'm back, I'm back. That sounds better than an unpaid reporter on the Middleton Guardian
23:24
And there's only so long you can do that. And I had to do what many people from our part of the world had to do in that era
23:29
To get on, we had to go south. and I've never really forgotten that experience
23:33
But it is different, so I'm not avoiding your question, Lottie. It is different, you know, the way people have to pay for university
23:40
and the unfairness, I'm going to say it, the unfairness of the loans that you are repaying
23:46
and then the interest and the fact the loan doesn't go down
23:50
I mean, that is a pretty poor situation that you all find yourselves in
23:57
Is it time to scrap NI for under 25? It's under 21s at the moment, isn't it? Well, the thing I'm going to point to is something we've announced at this conference, because it's very much aimed at Lottie's generation
24:08
And it's your first home. So we've brought back the successor scheme to Help to Buy
24:15
Help to Buy still created barriers in the deposit you had to find to be part of Help to Buy was quite big
24:22
And a lot of people don't have bank of mum and dad to be able to fall back on
24:26
so your first home will have a lower entry requirement so you'll only have to find a 2.5% deposit
24:34
and that was a deliberate choice so that we open it up to people who really need the help
24:39
to get their first foot on the housing ladder. So that's one thing, Lottie. I realise it's not everything
24:45
There's much more we need to do to support graduate employment, as you say
24:49
The main thing being let's get the economy growing again and I'm very focused on that
24:53
And thank you, Lottie, and to everyone who's called the Prime Minister today. I haven't yet said to you my condolences
24:58
for the loss of your father. I know it's an incredibly tough time for anyone, particularly with somebody doing the job that you are doing
25:06
I guess it won't just be your dad's experience and your dad's death
25:09
but is social care and what you intend to do, and we'll learn over time what that is
25:14
and how you're going to fund it, you want that to be your defining legacy
25:18
for your time as Prime Minister in this country? One of the things, for sure
25:24
but maybe the main thing, because it's very, very personal to me
25:28
because I saw my gran go through the care system 25 years ago
25:33
and I said as a politician then, I'm going to fight to make sure my parents' generation
25:38
don't go through what my gran went through. But here we are, 25 years later, and my dad has gone through
25:44
and it's probably worse today than it was for my gran back then. So that's just not good, is it
25:51
It's a colossal failure of politics. you know how can politics not fix something as basic as the care we give we give to each other
25:58
so you know i used that phrase yesterday i'm going to rip the plaster off i'm going to do it
26:02
i'm going to bring forward my plan i don't know whether you know people will feel able to back it
26:07
but what i do know is politics has got to get back to putting forward solutions it cannot be the case
26:14
that politics turns away and says this one is too difficult for us but that's what westminster has
26:19
done for 30 or more years with the issue of social care and it's one of the reasons why politics is in
26:25
such low esteem in this country. I am not going to do that as Prime Minister. People are asking me
26:31
to lead. I will lead. I will put forward what I think is right for the country and if it is right
26:38
great. If it's not, I will accept the consequences. This country more than anything right now
26:43
needs a direction, it needs honesty, it needs people of different views saying, okay
26:49
there's enough in what you're saying for us to get with it and pull with it. That's what
26:53
I'm going to try and bring about tomorrow, Sheila. Looking forward to speaking
26:57
to Labour Conference. For you and I, you'll understand this, quite a special moment to be born in this city
27:03
and then to be standing on that stage as Prime Minister, if I allow myself
27:08
a little bit of pride for one moment
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