Andy Burnham is set to become leader of the Labour Party on Thursday, promising to chart a new direction for Britain by tackling what he described as decades of political neglect and pursuing economic renewal ahead of taking office as prime minister next week.

Burnham, who will be formally confirmed at a special Labour Party conference in central London, is expected to unveil a vision centred on devolving power, rebuilding communities and expanding public investment, while positioning his administration as a distinctly Labour government focused on delivering tangible improvements across the country.

In his speech, Burnham will declare: “Britain took a series of wrong turns in the 1980s when political power was centralised and economic power privatised.”

The incoming Labour leader is expected to argue that the country needs a new path to the one we’ve been on for the last 40 years, pledging to lead a government with the courage to fix the big things that politics has neglected” and the conviction to argue for our plans.

Burnham will outline plans for a government focused on driving growth in every postcode and returning power to communities, while promising a programme built around economic renewal, public control and reindustrialisation.

He is also expected to emphasise that his administration will be “unashamedly Labour in our priorities and in the decisions we take, putting people and places at the heart of everything we do.”

Ahead of moving into Downing Street on Monday, Burnham has already announced plans to establish a new government team based in Manchester, describing it as “No 10 North,” as part of his commitment to decentralising power from Westminster.

The former Greater Manchester mayor, who returned to Parliament in June after a nine-year absence by winning the Makerfield by-election, secured the backing of 379 Labour MPs and the majority of affiliated trade unions to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Burnham is also expected to acknowledge Starmer’s role in rebuilding Labour’s electoral fortunes, saying he took the party “from its worst electoral defeat in a century to one of the largest election victories in our history.”

His address is expected to highlight priorities including stronger workers rights, increased investment in public services and implementation of the Hillsborough Law.

Attention is now turning to Burnham’s first cabinet, with the position of chancellor attracting particular interest. While no appointment is expected until Monday, discussions are understood to be ongoing within Burnham’s inner circle over who will lead the Treasury, a decision widely seen as a key indicator of the new government’s economic direction. (Arise News)

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