Andy Burnham made his first appearance at the despatch box in the Commons since becoming Prime Minister.
But his address to MPs was overshadowed by Sir Keir Starmer announcing his shock resignation.
The former PM said he felt it was the “right time” to step down as an MP and focus on new work on international affairs.
He was replaced by Andy Burnham in July after a series of U-turns, dire polling and a pummelling in the local elections.
His resignation as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras will spark a by-election in the London constituency.
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Here’s what Andy Burnham told MPs
The Prime Minister made his debut at the Commons despatch box on Tuesday, when he set out plans to devolve more power away from Westminster and into the regions, and to take back public control over utilities and services.
Mr Burnham blamed the legacy of Margaret Thatcher, the austerity era and Brexit for decades of slow growth, and insisted his plans to change the “failed economic model” would kickstart Britain’s economy.
“Britain is not where any of us would wish it to be,” he told MPs, adding: “Things are not working as they should, life is too expensive and too hard for too many.”
During his Commons outing, he described Britain’s water industry as “a leaking monument to that approach, a country run in the private rather than public interest”.
Throughout his three hour and 23 minute Commons grilling, the Prime Minister declined to say whether there will be tax rises at the October 28 Budget.
But he suggested that his Chancellor John Healey will find money to hike defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030 by the time of the next spending review.
Burnham says country ‘moving in the right direction’
Andy Burnham has insisted the country is “moving in the right direction”.
In response to Kemi Badenoch, he said: “I will work with her where we can, and we should make that commitment to each other today. But I will still point out where she’s wrong, we are not in a position to take lectures when this country is moving in the right direction.
“You can see that on the economy, you can see that on small boat crossings, you can see that on the cost of living, and that is what we will continue to do to turn this country around.”
Badenoch tells Burnham to ‘start taking this job seriously’
Kemi Badenoch urged Andy Burnham to “start taking this job seriously” as he criticised Labour U-turns.
The Tory leader said: “His own Chancellor said 3% was needed to keep British troops safe. Now apparently he doesn’t believe this. On illegal migration, Labour scrapped Rwanda. Now they appear to be considering a Rwandan-style scheme of their own.
“On prisons, he said dangerous criminals could not be exempted from early release. Then he changed his mind. This country cannot afford a government swerving all over the place.
“Labour have already tried government by U-turn. It doesn’t work. If he wants to be different from his predecessor, if he wants to live up to the optimistic vision he is painting, he’s going to have to start taking this job seriously.”
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Badenoch rips into Burnham over prison early release scheme
Kemi Badenoch tore into Andy Burnham for changing his position on the prison early release scheme.
She said: “He has had five different positions on early release in six weeks, putting the victims through hell with his indecision.”
Badenoch warns being PM is ‘very different job’ to Greater Manchester mayor
The leader of the Opposition warned the Prime Minister: “This is a very different job to being mayor of Manchester, where he did not have to pick winners and losers, and he did not have to make difficult trade-offs. He did not have to worry about our national security. He does now.”
Badenoch accuses Burnham of ‘living in the past’
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Andy Burnham of “living in the past” in their first Commons exchange.
Responding to his statement, the Tory leader said: “The Prime Minister said in his statement that everything has gone wrong since the 1980s, still complaining about Margaret Thatcher. He is living in the past, and he wants to take us back to the 1970s.”
She added: “His diagnosis is completely wrong. His theory of growth is completely wrong. He thinks that if Government spends more money, we will all get richer. That is not how this works.”
(Image: PA)
Burnham to take ‘stronger public control’ over ‘essentials’
Andy Burnham has vowed to set out how the Government will take “stronger public control” over “essentials” such as water.
He said: “Later in the year, our 10-year plan for Britain will set out plans for stronger public control over these essentials, making them work for people and places again.”
Burnham takes swipe at Brexit
Britain needs to be “blunt about what went wrong” over the last four decades, Andy Burnham has insisted.
He hit out at the deindustrialisation and privatisation of the 1980s, and the impact of austerity and Brexit on areas of the UK outside of the South East and London.
The PM said: “Unless we are blunt about what went wrong, we won’t turn things around. Far from taking back control, the combination of these policies took control out of the hands of communities up and down Britain.”
Burnham defends prison early release scheme
Andy Burnham defended the prison early release scheme in his statement to the Commons.
The Prime Minister said: “We are now confirming that anyone convicted of manslaughter, death by dangerous driving, or indecent assault will not now see any change to their prison term.
“We will find additional prison places by deporting more foreign national offenders, and finally grasping the nettle on an issue this House has ignored for too long: indefinite IPP sentences, a now abolished policy, but one … which to this day keeps people behind bars, despite already having served more than their sentences.
“None of this is easy, but I did what I always do, and that is to apply my values to a challenging situation, and a care for people, which I spoke about in Downing Street. I believe the public will support me in recognising the clear difference between those who have served their time and more, and those who have not.
“We will bring forward legislation soon, but we can find a solution to end this injustice, which balances public safety and basic fairness, and I urge colleagues on all sides of the House to help us do that.
“This is politics done differently, problem-solving over point scoring. It is what the country needs. It is what the public want more of, and it will characterise my time in office.”
Burnham to attend Cop climate summit
Andy Burnham pledged to “meet the climate challenge” as he announced he will attend Cop 31 in November.
He said: “I know I also speak for the whole House in expressing my profound shock and horror at the devastating scenes on the Nepal-China border.
“My sympathies are with all those affected, including the families and loved ones of those missing in this appalling tragedy. The Foreign Secretary is doing everything he can to support the Nepalese government and British nationals in the region.
“This is what the climate crisis looks like. We have just ourselves experienced what is likely to have been the hottest summer on record. This Government will meet the climate challenge, and I can confirm to the House that I will attend Cop 31 in Turkey in November.”
Burnham vows to back Ukraine
Andy Burnham pledged to continue the UK’s backing for Ukraine, saying: “Britain’s defence starts in Ukraine and the defence of the nation will always be my first priority.”
Burnham pays tribute to Starmer
In his first appearance as Prime Minister in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paid tribute to Sir Keir Starmer for creating “a platform to change this country for the better”.
It comes after his predecessor’s shock announcement earlier today that he will quit Parliament.
Badenoch ‘surprised’ about Starmer’s resignation
Reacting to Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to stand down as an MP, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch wrote on X: “Wishing Keir Starmer all the best for the future.
“I was surprised to hear he was standing down from Parliament.
“But I can understand why he would not want to spend time with the Labour MPs who treated him so badly after he won them their seats.”
Miliband urged to visit Taiwan by Tugendhat
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has been urged to visit Taiwan by his newly appointed shadow counterpart Tom Tugendhat.
The Tory MP, who has taken on the role in Kemi Badenoch’s reshuffled shadow cabinet, is visiting officials in Taiwan.He posted on X: “China threatens our security and democracy. Standing with partners protects us all.“I’ve been in Taiwan where they’re on the frontline and we have much to learn.“Will Miliband look for real partners and visit Taiwan or continue turning to China?”
Nigel Farage returns to Parliament
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been sworn in as an MP again, after resigning and then winning the Clacton by-election
Nigel Farage returns to the House of Commons (Image: )
Andy Burnham delivers message at Cabinet meeting
Andy Burnham kicked off Tuesday morning’s Cabinet meeting by thanking his colleagues for establishing “a strong sense of momentum” in his first few weeks as Prime Minister.
In a Downing Street readout of the meeting, his official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister opened cabinet by thanking colleagues for establishing a strong sense of momentum in his first weeks in office.
“He said the country have noticed a change of pace with the Government setting the agenda and starting the process of giving local areas the levers they need to create good growth.
“He said that during his summer tour, it was clear that life was hard for many people, that they wanted to have hope and hear a positive outlook for the country.”
Sir Keir Starmer to stand down as an MP
Former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is to step down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, a move that will trigger a by-election in the London seat.
Burnham hosted top minister at No10 south
Andy Burnham met with his top team in No 10 Downing Street earlier on Tuesday morning.
Below is a snap of Housing Secretary Angela Rayner exiting the building afterwards.
Angela Rayner exiting No10 (Image: PA)
James Cleverly cut to become next Mayor of London
Sir James Cleverly has shortened with Star Sports to become the next Mayor of London after announcing his intention to run for the role.
Following his announcement, Sir James was installed at 6/1 to become the next Mayor of London and that price has since been cut to 5/1, leaving him behind joint-favourites Laila Cunningham and Sadiq Khan (both 5/2) and level with Dawn Butler in the market.
Sir James has also shortened into 4/1 from 5/1 to become the next leader of the Conservative Party after Kemi Badenoch, making him the new favourite ahead of Katie Lam (9/2).
PM shows support for Jewish community following last year’s Manchester synagogue terror attack
Andy Burnham has paid tribute to the victims and survivors of last year’s Manchester synagogue terror attack.
The Prime Minister on Tuesday expressed his support for worshippers, politicians and emergency services who gathered at Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsall for the memorial service the evening before.
Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed when Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, drove into the gates of the synagogue on October 2, 2025 and began attacking with a knife while wearing a fake suicide belt.
The attack took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews.
Concerns have been raised about rising antisemitism, and Heaton Park Synagogue rabbi Daniel Walker said the community there felt less safe now than immediately after the attack.
PM vows ‘to stamp out antisemitism for good’
Andy Burnham has vowed to “stamp out antisemitism for good” as he paid tribute to the victims of the Manchester synagogue terror attack.
The Prime Minister wrote on X: “We send our love and support to the Jewish community in Manchester and beyond who last night gathered to remember Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby, who were killed defending their synagogue last year. My thoughts are with their families and all those who have been affected by the attack.
“I know for many Jewish people, the sorrow and fear from that day has not lifted, and I know we must do more to protect communities across the country.
“I want Jewish people to know that their safety is a priority of mine and I’m determined to stamp out antisemitism for good.”
Sir James Cleverly challenger plans to stand against top Tory
A Conservative councillor has announced he plans to stand as a rival challenger to Sir James Cleverly in the race to be the Tories’ next London mayoral candidate.
Festus Akinbusoye, a Conservative Westminster councillor, has entered the contest to be the party’s mayoral candidate in 2028.
Sir James quit his role as Kemi Badenoch’s shadow housing secretary at the weekend to stand in the internal race.
Mr Akinbusoye is centring his pitch around fighting crime, and building new homes in the capital, and draws on his background of law and order as an ex-special constable and former Bedfordshire police and crime commissioner.
James Cleverly (Image: Getty)
Justice Secretary: We’re going to make sure that the prisons can still function properly
Justice Secretary Alex Norris said the Government will transform existing areas, such as shared-use areas and offices, to house inmates.
Asked where clothes would be washed if laundry rooms were converted into cells, Mr Norris told BBC Breakfast: “Of course we’re going to make sure that the prisons can still function properly.
“This is a creative look, as I say, around our estate and being able to use some space that we can re-prioritise.”
He said wider plans – including building entire new prisons – would see 14,000 new places on top of the 3,200 prison places delivered in the last two years, “but that takes time”, while the conversion plans would add “in the hundreds of spaces”.
“In a system that’s running very hot, a few hundred places here and there makes a really big difference,” the Cabinet minister said.
Chancellor ‘is committed to increasing defence spending’
Wes Streeting has said there is “no doubt” about the Chancellor’s commitment to defence investment amid questions about plans to spend more on the military.
The Defence Secretary said John Healey would provide funding for the Defence Investment Plan (Dip) at next month’s Budget before setting out a timetable for spending 3% and then 3.5% of GDP on defence at next year’s spending review.
He said: “There should be no doubt about the Chancellor’s commitment to investing in our defence.”
Defence spending is a key issue for Mr Healey, who resigned as former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s defence secretary over what he saw as inadequate funding for the Dip.
In his resignation letter, he said he was “certain that a headmark date for 3% of GDP on defence in 2030 is what Britain must set” before reaching its Nato commitment of spending 3.5% by 2035.
But since becoming Chancellor under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, reports have suggested Mr Healey could back away from reaching his own 3% target by 2030.
UK Chancellor John Healey (Image: Getty)
Public opposes early release
Nearly two-thirds of Britons think the Government is wrong to allow early prison releases, according to polling.
Ahead of an announcement in Parliament by the Justice Secretary on plans to ease prison overcrowding, YouGov said 64% opposed the early release scheme in a survey of 2,087 adults.
The Government’s proposal to halve the time that some more serious offenders will have to serve in prison is opposed by 82% of those surveyed while 61% are against cutting the proportion of their sentences that less serious offenders have to spend in jail to around a third.
Building more prisons to tackle the overcrowding crisis has the support of 81% of Britons while 78% back releasing foreign nationals early so they can be deported, according to YouGov.
Alex Norris confirms what many have suspected on crime
The Justice Secretary told LBC: “The Prime Minister has been very clear that he wants 10-year solutions. I’m working on a goal that gets us to sustainable prison capacity 10 years into the future. I wish predecessors 10 years had done that ago frankly, they haven’t, but we’re going to.
“This is now part of business as usual.
“The progression model, where people come out and then are subject to very significant controls.
“You know that is the nature of sentencing in this country from this month.
“But you know we want to make sure, as I say, we have to make sure there’s enough capacity.
“At the moment, we’ve run out in November. We’ve pushed that outwards, and we are working on making sure that’s a 10-year solution.”
Labour’s big admission on criminals
Criminals being let out of prison after serving as little as a third of their sentence behind bars will be “part of business as usual”, Alex Norris has admitted.
The Justice Secretary, in a staggering admission, defended Labour’s softest sentencing reforms in a generation.
And he admitted it could take 10 years to get the prison overcrowding crisis under control.
Under Labour’s plans, many convicts will be out after spending just a third of their jail term in prison.
And those sentenced to four years or more will only be let out after serving 50% of their sentence behind bars.
Andy Burnham to promise ‘optimism’
Andy Burnham will say he wants to bring a “sense of optimism” to Britain, in his Commons statement this afternoon.
He will promise to “unlock a feeling of positivity and possibility” across the UK
Ed Miliband also faces Commons grilling
Ed Miliband is also to answer questions in the Commons, for the first time in his new role as Foreign Secretary.
It’s a chance for new Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat to put Mr Miliband on the spot.
(Image: Getty)
Justice Secretary: Prisons will ‘still function properly’ amid plans to transform laundries
The Justice Secretary has insisted prisons will “still function properly” amid concerns over Government plans to turn laundries into accommodation in a bid to tackle overcrowding.
Asked where clothes would be washed if laundry rooms were converted into cells, Alex Norris told BBC Breakfast: “Of course we’re going to make sure that the prisons can still function properly.
“This is a creative look, as I say, around our estate and being able to use some space that we can re-prioritise.”
He said ministers “want to improve the prison environment”.
Ed Davey says prison plans to tackle overcrowding do not go far enough
Plans by ministers to tackle overcrowding in prisons do not go far enough, the leader of the Liberal Democrats has suggested.
Sir Ed Davey told LBC Radio: “They’re talking about turning laundries into prison cells in existing prisons.
“I’m not sure if that cuts it, to be honest … and there’s no new money.
“If they’re going to get serious, they’ve really got to tackle it with a little bit more vigour and verve than I’ve seen so far. It’s really, really important.”
Ed Davey (Image: Getty)
Victims to be asked about restrictions as perpertrators set for early release
Victims whose perpetrators are due for early prison release will be asked what restrictions they want imposed “so they can live their life fully”, the Justice Secretary has said.
Alex Norris told BBC Breakfast: “They will be written to. Letters start going out today.
“They will all be contacted individually by a victim liaison officer, who will then talk to them about, firstly, is their perpetrator coming out sooner than they expected? But secondly – and this is really crucial – that if their perpetrator is coming out sooner, or indeed when their perpetrator comes out in the future, what sort of controls do they want to see so they can live their life fully?”
He said offenders would be “subject to the widest range of tools we’ve ever had”, including restriction zones, tagging, bans on attending football games or night clubs.
Mr Norris continued: “We will be talking through our victim liaison officers to victims and survivors to ask them how they live their lives, so that we can design the restrictions on their perpetrator, so that they live around their victims and survivors, rather than the other way round, which has been the case for far too long.”
He encouraged victims to join the victim contact scheme.
Burnham to be grilled on £4.7 billion defence funding hole
Andy Burnham is also expected to face tough questions about how he will fill a £4.7 billion funding hole in the defence investment plan, left to him by his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer.
Chancellor John Healey has vowed defence will be central to his plans at the Treasury, after last week being unable to commit to a 2030 deadline for when Britain will meet a target to spend 3% of its economy on defence.
Mr Healey’s resignation as Sir Keir’s defence secretary over a dispute about a shortfall in funding was a pivotal moment in the former prime minister’s downfall earlier this year.
He told The Times: “For the first time at the spending review, we will set out a clear path about how we meet that Nato commitment in 2035, of 2.5% of GDP.”
The Chancellor added: “And as part of setting out that clear path, we will set that target date for 3%.”
Chancellor John Healey was formerly the Defence Secretary (Image: Getty)
PM to face a two-hour Common grilling
The Prime Minister is expected to face a two-hour grilling from MPs when he stands up in the Commons on Tuesday, and he will undergo further scrutiny in the chamber on Wednesday when he faces off against Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for his first Prime Minister’s Questions.
Mrs Badenoch on Bank Holiday Monday reshuffled her shadow cabinet, sacking Tory big beasts such as Sir Mel Stride and Dame Priti Patel, ahead of Parliament’s return.
Kemi Badenoch to pepper the PM with questions in the Commons this week (Image: Getty)
Prisons to take centre stage on day of Commons’ return from summer break
Andy Burnham’s Justice Secretary Alex Norris will announce to the Commons the Government’s plans for an early release scheme to deal with prison overcrowding.
Over the weekend, the Prime Minister said the killers of Thames Valley Police officer Andrew Harper will not be eligible for the scheme, following a backlash.
Mr Burnham initially resisted calls to limit the scheme further after it emerged that Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, who were convicted of Pc Harper’s manslaughter in 2020, would be eligible from next year.
Ministers also plan to create capacity in prisons by building hundreds of new places with a £110 million investment, by deporting foreign prisoners and releasing inmates who are serving indefinite sentences under imprisonment for public protection sentences (IPPs).
Justice Secretary declines to say whether fewer prison places than a year ago
Justice Secretary Alex Norris has declined to say whether there are fewer prison places than a year ago.
Touring broadcast studios ahead of setting out in Parliament the plans to tackle overcrowding in the prisons estate, he was asked about the Conservatives’ claim that there are 700 fewer prison places than in 2025.
Mr Norris told Times Radio: “Those wouldn’t necessarily be the numbers I’d use, but it is possible that places come out of the estate. For example, you know, there can be damage, fire damage. We’ve got a very old estate.
“I talk about the biggest prison-building programme since the Victorian era. Well, that means that a lot of our estate is Victorian estate.”
The estate “fluctuates” because of planned and unplanned conditions, the minister added.
Mr Norris said the plan to convert unused spaces inside prisons, such as shared use areas and offices, into new cells would create “in the hundreds of places”.
“In a system that’s running very hot, a few hundred places here and there makes a really big difference,” he said.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris on Sky News (Image: Sky News)
Kemi Badenoch to clash with Burnham in Commons for first time
Kemi Badenoch will get her first chance to grill Andy Burnham from the despatch box on Tuesday afternoon.
She will be flanked by her new-look frontbench team after a sweeping bank holiday reshuffle.
Burnham to use Commons debut as PM to argue for more public control
Andy Burnham will call for more public control over water, energy and transport in his first appearance in the House of Commons since becoming Prime Minister.
Mr Burnham will use his Commons debut as Prime Minister on Tuesday, his first appearance at the despatch box in 16 years, to argue that stronger public control over many of the country’s services can be an engine for economic growth.
The Prime Minister is expected to set out his belief that essential services have not been run in the public interest, and that they have become neither reliable nor affordable, holding back households and the wider economy.
