Andy Burnham’s opening fortnight as Prime Minister has demonstrated his ability to connect with people. From his speech on the steps of No. 10 without notes to his use of traditional and social media, he has communicated Labour’s values and priorities in a simple, accessible way.
More importantly, he has sought to show that government can act quickly on the issues people feel most keenly in their everyday lives.
The cost of living has been central to that approach. Early measures to reduce VAT on household electricity bills and restore the £2 bus fare cap are practical interventions designed to ease pressure on working people and make public transport more affordable.
Housing has also featured prominently. Burnham has made increasing the supply of council housing central to his longer-term approach to both the housing crisis and rising welfare costs. That commitment matters here in South Warwickshire, where the need for genuinely affordable social housing is acute.
Perhaps the most striking announcement came within hours of entering Downing Street, when Burnham said his first instruction as Prime Minister would be to begin the work of ending rough sleeping. Nobody expects such a complex problem to disappear overnight, but the choice sent a clear signal about the kind of government he wants to lead.
He has also promised greater devolution, strengthening the role of England’s mayors and moving more decision-making away from Whitehall. The proposed “No. 10 North” presence reinforces his determination to make government feel less remote from communities outside Westminster.
Alongside these policies has come a noticeable change in tone. Burnham has spoken consistently about hope, national renewal and rebuilding trust in politics, while using social media to communicate more directly and informally with voters.
There will inevitably be difficult decisions and controversies ahead. Ultimately, this government will be judged not on speeches or announcements but on whether it improves people’s lives.
But after years in which politics has often seemed defensive and reactive, the first two weeks have offered an encouraging start: a government setting the agenda, acting with confidence and giving people reason to believe that practical change is possible.
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