Andy Burnham will enter 10 Downing Street. (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer will make his last speech outside No 10 this morning before Andy Burnham becomes PM. In his first speech as prime minister, Mr Burnham will promise to give people “breathing room” against the rising cost of living.
He will urge the country to be honest about the challenges it faces and call for “reflection and resolution” and say he is “acutely conscious” that the UK has had seven prime ministers in the last decade.
Mr Burnham will announce his Cabinet later amid intense speculation over who will be his Chancellor.
Follow below for live updates:
Outside 10 Downing Street
I’m outside No 10 where journalists from all across the country and several from around the world are gathering,
Andy Burnham is expected to head to Buckingham Palace this morning, and back here to make his first speech as Britain welcomes its latest PM.
The Daily Express is on site to give you all the updates.
Tories issue warning over tax hikes
Andy Burnham enters Downing Street today without a plan for Government or a mandate for his tax-raising proposals, Kemi Badenoch warned.
She slammed the incoming Prime Minister for saying last week that he could “ask for a little more”, and insisted: “Labour has no mandate at all to put up taxes even further.”
Mrs Badenoch warned that even the threat of a tax rise could damage the economy.
Mr Burnham should instead find cash to help struggling families by cutting the UK’s soaring benefits bill, she said.
What does Andy Burnhams day look like?
Andy Burnham will head to Buckingham Palace to request permission from His Majesty the King to form a government.
He will do so after a security briefing, and then at around 12:45 he will officially enter No10 for that famous photograph.
This is often an extremely famous moment in the lifetime of a premiership, and will mark his first address to the nation as Prime Minister.
Margaret Thatcher famously quoted St Francis of Assisi on her way into Number 10 saying: “Where there is despair, may we bring hope.”
He will then head inside and be given a tour of the historic building – this might also be a chance for him to lay out his new dress code plans as Mr Burnham intends not to wear a shirt and tie except for big occasions.
Once that’s done it’s off for a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary, the boss of the civil service to lay out his plans.
Then Mr Burnham will be shown the No10 bunker, and after that he takes phone calls from leaders across the world.
By mid afternoon we can expect a raft of Cabinet announcements as we begin to see what sort of shape this new government will take.
And by the end of the day Mr Burnham will need to write the ‘letters of last resort’ after a chat with the Chief of the Defence Staff – those are the letters telling commanders of Britain’s Vanguard class of nuclear-armed submarines what to do in the event of a strike.
(Image: Getty)
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Starmer: I leave the UK better than I found it
Sir Keir Starmer has said he leaves the country in a better state than he found it.
The recently ousted Prime Minister departs No10 after hundreds of his own MPs turned on him following a disastrous set of local election results.
Taking to social media Sir Keir said: “I am so proud that we leave the country in a much better state than we found it two years ago, on the economy, on public services, on protection for children, on defence and security, and on our international reputation in particular.”
Farage calls for snap general election
Nigel Farage demanded “an immediate general election” as Andy Burnham marches into Number 10.
The Reform leader said: “More taxes, more border chaos, more Europe, and an extra £10 billion in foreign aid – all without any democratic mandate.
“That’s why, unlike the Tories who do not seem to take any interest in fighting elections these days, we are calling for an immediate general election. Burnham must set out his stall, put it to the British people, and let us decide the future of our country.”
Press assemble in Downing Street
The press are assembling in Downing Street ahead of Sir Keir Starmer‘s exit and Andy Burnham’s arrival.
(Image: Getty)
Burnham to pledge to give people ‘breathing room’
Andy Burnham will enter 10 Downing Street promising to give people “breathing room” against the rising cost of living.
In his first speech as PM, Mr Burnham will urge the country to be honest about the challenges it faces and call for “reflection and resolution”.
He will also say he is “acutely conscious” that the UK has had seven prime ministers in the last decade, stressing the need for more stable and responsible politics and pledging to restore faith in government.
He will argue that political stability must deliver “tangible” improvements along with the “breathing room” on the cost of living he has previously promised.
What is happening today?
Sir Keir Starmer will make a speech outside 10 Downing Street at around 11.15am before heading to Buckingham Palace to formally resign before Andy Burnham meets the King to “kiss hands” and be appointed prime minister.
Mr Burnham will make his first address as PM outside No 10 at about 12.40pm.
After his speech, Mr Burnham is expected to name his Cabinet amid intense speculation over who he will appoint.
Good morning
Welcome to our live blog. We will be bringing you all the latest updates as Sir Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street and Andy Burnham becomes PM today.
