Starmer pledges to build a 'New Britain' in first speech at ruling Labour Party annual conference

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged yesterday, in his first speech at the annual conference of the ruling Labour Party since assuming office, to strengthen public sector control over essential services, marking a reversal of the privatization policies that have characterized the country for decades.

Burnham, the 56-year-old former mayor of Manchester, who took office just 10 weeks ago, shed tears while speaking about his father, who died this month. He outlined his long-term ambitions to establish a free social care system, reform the electoral system, and modify the pension salary structure, steps that sparked angry reactions.

Speaking to a large crowd in Liverpool, who repeatedly interrupted his speech with warm applause, Burnham said, “Not everyone will agree with every detail (of the program), but I am confident it will change the course of Britain.”

With an enthusiastic tone, the Prime Minister defended his plans to secure free social care for people suffering from chronic illnesses or disabilities. He said, “I do not claim that achieving these goals is easy. It may cost me politically. But someone must bear this burden, and the problem must be addressed quickly and once and for all. This is the leadership I promised you.”

Since coming to power in July, Burnham has succeeded in revitalizing the Labour Party (center-left), following the end of his predecessor Keir Starmer’s two-year rule. It is worth noting that since Starmer’s Labour Party came to power in 2024, his tenure has been marked by domestic policy errors and controversial decisions.

Nevertheless, many questions remain regarding what can be achieved from Burnham’s ambitious goals under difficult economic conditions, particularly concerning the return of industry to the country, ending homelessness, and building thousands of new state-owned homes.

Like many European countries, the British economy is suffering from weak growth and high borrowing costs, while rising energy prices due to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are impacting British citizens.

Burnham must also provide billions of pounds to fund British defense and meet the country’s commitments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

During his speech, Burnham told MPs and Labour activists that strengthening government control over housing, energy, and water sectors, and granting local leaders broader powers, would help boost the struggling British economy.

He continued, as the seventh British Prime Minister in ten years, “I will end the approach that dominated for the past forty years and put Britain on a new path to build a new economy and new policies.”

He added that his government would soon introduce a bill to abolish the “ideological ban on public ownership of water companies” imposed by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990).

He stated, “Traditional policies have taken Britain backward. Continuing with the same approach is no longer enough, and it will not get us where we need to be.”

Burnham must adhere to the electoral program on which Starmer’s Labour Party campaigned in the 2024 elections, which includes a pledge not to increase income tax and two other major taxes.

The Health Foundation think tank estimates the cost of creating a social care system similar to the National Health Service at approximately 19 billion pounds ($25 billion) annually.

To finance this project, Burnham said he would campaign in the next election on changing the way pensions are increased, a bold step that right-wing parties immediately described as an attack on the elderly.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-immigration party, responded to Burnham’s plans in a statement, saying, “By attempting to dismantle the pension protection system, Andy Burnham is abdicating his responsibility toward British retirees.”

Despite the challenges, this year’s party conference is raising the slogan “Hope Again,” with participants appearing more optimistic compared to the previous two sessions, which saw mutual criticism over domestic policy errors during Starmer’s tenure.

However, a recent YouGov poll yesterday showed a decline for Burnham’s party ahead of the rival Reform Party, which received 25% of voting intentions compared to 24% for the Labour Party.

Burnham announced the establishment of a new government body to invest in the British electricity grid, aiming to reduce high energy costs. He also confirmed that his campaign in the next election would focus on changing the first-past-the-post voting system, under which the candidate with the most votes wins.

He pledged to explore “different options” in future relations with the European Union during an upcoming summit later this year, emphasizing that the “damage” from Britain’s 2016 exit from the bloc (Brexit) “outweighed its benefits.”