Burnham s'engage à "réparer de grandes choses" au Royaume-Uni alors qu'il se rapproche de Downing Street

Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Manchester and current leader of the UK’s Labour Party, is poised to take a decisive step toward becoming Britain’s next prime minister. On Friday, July 17, Labour held a special conference to officially confirm Burnham as its leader, a process made all but certain by his overwhelming support among the party’s parliamentary members. With at least 360 of Labour’s 403 MPs backing him and no serious rivals in the contest, Burnham is now within days of assuming the role of prime minister following the formal departure of outgoing leader Keir Starmer. Burnham is expected to address party delegates with a vision centered around addressing major national issues, emphasizing his commitment to "fix the big things" that have long been overlooked in British politics. His leadership pledge includes a focus on devolution reforms for cities and regions, efforts to reduce energy costs through renewed North Sea oil exploration, and a symbolic move to bring Thames Water under public ownership. These proposals aim to restore public confidence in Labour’s ability to deliver tangible change. The transition from Starmer to Burnham is set to occur on Monday, beginning with Starmer’s visit to Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation to King Charles III. The monarch is expected to then invite Burnham to form a government. By shortly after midday, Burnham will enter Downing Street as prime minister, delivering a speech from the same lectern previously occupied by Starmer during his final address as leader. The immediate task ahead involves assembling a new cabinet, with key appointments expected to be announced soon after Burnham assumes office. While Energy Secretary Ed Miliband had initially been considered for the role of chancellor, recent pressures from both trade unions and business groups appear to have shifted the balance in favor of Shabana Mahmood, the current home secretary. If confirmed, Mahmood would become the first Muslim woman to serve as chancellor, offering a signal of fiscal responsibility and stability to both Labour MPs and business leaders. Miliband, meanwhile, may be named foreign secretary, though this could leave Yvette Cooper, once a prominent figure in the party, without a clear path forward unless she is assigned another cabinet role. John Healey, who recently resigned as defense minister, is anticipated to return to that post, a decision that likely influenced Starmer’s decision to step down. Former deputy leader Angela Rayner is also expected to receive a cabinet position, despite not being as closely aligned with Burnham as some other figures. Lucy Powell, who was dismissed by Starmer before being elected deputy party leader, is a staunch supporter of Burnham and is almost certain to secure a cabinet role. The pace of these appointments will be swift, with the king required to approve each position individually, potentially creating a period of administrative flux as the new government takes shape. Burnham plans to include more than 100 MPs, ranging from junior ministers to whips, on the government payroll, reinforcing his authority within Parliament. As Burnham prepares to lead the nation, his primary challenge lies in uniting a party still grappling with internal divisions and uncertainty. At the same time, he must convince the electorate that Labour has truly entered a new era, one capable of addressing Britain’s pressing economic concerns. The coming days will test whether his leadership can bridge ideological divides and provide a coherent direction for the country.