Burnham to forge new path as Labour leader - with departing Starmer insisting: 'I go with pride'
The incoming Prime Minister will pledge a left-wing tilt as he prepares to enter Downing Street on Monday
Britain gets a new Prime Minister on Monday. Stay with the LBC app for full live coverage as Andy Burnham takes the keys to Downing Street.
Andy Burnham has vowed to forge a 'distinctly Labour' future, insisting he has the "courage to fix big things' on the day he's crowned Labour leader.
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The MP for Makerfield is preparing to take the party reins during a “special conference” later today, ahead of becoming Prime Minister on Monday, amid speculation over his top team.
As part of Burnham's acceptance speech on Friday, which will be delivered after winning the Labour leadership unopposed, the soon-to-be PM is expected to promise a renewal of the Labour government, as well as setting out his vision for Britain.
Mr Burnham is understood to want to "drive growth in every postcode" and to devolve power to communities across the UK.
It comes as the outgoing PM, Sir Keir Starmer, insisted he leaves his post "with pride", adding that it was reassuring "knowing that I leave the country in a better state than I found it".
Speaking with Sky, the PM made the comments as speculation surrounding Burnham's top team continues to grow - most notably in relation to his pick for Chancellor.
It follows suggestions that some of Burnham's backers remain disgruntled with the idea that Shabana Mahmood could be appointed Labour chancellor.
In the speech, which will take place in central London later today, Burnham will pledge his leadership to "fix the big things that politics has neglected" - as well as promising "conviction to argue for our plans".
The central tenet of the speech will include a slamming of Margaret Thatcher's government from 1979 to 1991.
He will declare that under Thatcher's premiership, "Britain took a series of wrong turns in the 1980s" with power centralised and economic power privatised.
The former Greater Manchester mayor will promise "a new path to the one we’ve been on for the last 40 years".
As part of the theme of devolution, Mr Burnham will also say he intends to be a leader "for the North and the South, for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland, and for every town and every city in every nation and region of this great country".
As part of the speech, he will then pay tribute to outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, crediting him with taking the party "from its worst electoral defeat in a century to one of the largest election victories in our history".
He will also praise the achievements of Sir Keir's premiership, including stronger workers' rights, NHS improvements, investment in public services and the passing of the Hillsborough Law earlier this week.