Jul 20, 2026 · 58 min · 12 segments
Andy Burnham has promised a new style of politics after becoming Britain’s seventh Prime Minister – but can he deliver? In this special episode of Northern Spin, co-hosts Chris Maguire and Frank…
Frank McKennaHost
Chris MaguireHost
Well, the first thing I'd say is, isn't it good to see a prime minister with a smile on his face and not looking at notes making a speech very naturally off the cuff talking about the issues that clearly he's prioritized no surprise to me that he's mentioned the council housing which of course something he's brought up on a number of occasions during past couple of weeks um the point that he made about Sorting out homelessness and rough sleeping, something, of course, we're very aware of how close that issue is to his heart here in Greater Manchester.
And then I think welfare reform being linked to defence spending was a clever thing to do as well, because it's signalling to his parliamentary Labour Party that there are going to be some tough choices ahead.
But as he said, he wants to make those welfare reforms in a sustainable way to support people back into work and to make sure that people can meet their ambitions and personal aspirations.
As he said there, you know, the fourth prime minister in the last five years, the seventh in the last decade.
But what he's promising is for a different type of politics, a different approach.
And hopefully he can deliver very quickly because he's going to need to on some of those pressing issues, not least the cost of living crisis.
That lectern has now been ditched until the next prime minister, which hopefully won't be for a few years yet.
That was a speech that came from the heart, built up through 30, 40 years of something he passionately believes in as well.
about aspiration but it wasn't about you know this jubilation and tub thumping he recognizes the fact that we've had too many prime ministers you know there has been too much said um i thought i thought the wording of what he said and how he said it as well the the optics were just were just brilliant um you know i will give this my all i ask you to pull with me you know that is to say this isn't going to be easy but i'm going to give you everything i've got The fact that his first instruction is going to be to end rough sleeping.
This is a guy, as mayor of Greater Manchester, gave 15% of his salary away to tackle rough sleeping in Manchester.
Well, the first thing I'd say is, isn't it good to see a prime minister with a smile on his face and not looking at notes making a speech very naturally off the cuff talking about the issues that clearly he's prioritized no surprise to me that he's mentioned the council housing which of course something he's brought up on a number of occasions during past couple of weeks um the point that he made about Sorting out homelessness and rough sleeping, something, of course, we're very aware of how close that issue is to his heart here in Greater Manchester.
And then I think welfare reform being linked to defence spending was a clever thing to do as well, because it's signalling to his parliamentary Labour Party that there are going to be some tough choices ahead.
But as he said, he wants to make those welfare reforms in a sustainable way to support people back into work and to make sure that people can meet their ambitions and personal aspirations.
As he said there, you know, the fourth prime minister in the last five years, the seventh in the last decade.
But what he's promising is for a different type of politics, a different approach.
And hopefully he can deliver very quickly because he's going to need to on some of those pressing issues, not least the cost of living crisis.
That lectern has now been ditched until the next prime minister, which hopefully won't be for a few years yet.
That was a speech that came from the heart, built up through 30, 40 years of something he passionately believes in as well.
about aspiration but it wasn't about you know this jubilation and tub thumping he recognizes the fact that we've had too many prime ministers you know there has been too much said um i thought i thought the wording of what he said and how he said it as well the the optics were just were just brilliant um you know i will give this my all i ask you to pull with me you know that is to say this isn't going to be easy but i'm going to give you everything i've got The fact that his first instruction is going to be to end rough sleeping.
This is a guy, as mayor of Greater Manchester, gave 15% of his salary away to tackle rough sleeping in Manchester.
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