Andy Burnham is set to promise a new direction for Britain as he is confirmed as the new Labour leader on Friday. The Makerfield MP is due to take the role at a special party conference in central London, where he will begin to lay out the political message he wants to take to the country.
The speech is expected to do more than mark a leadership handover. It will also serve as an early statement of how Burnham sees the future of government, with the report saying he will start setting out his wider vision before becoming prime minister next week.
That makes the address a significant moment for both Labour and the wider UK political landscape. Burnham is using the occasion to frame his leadership around change, presenting what he describes as a new path for Britain as he prepares to move from party leadership into national office.
With his confirmation as Labour leader imminent, attention will now turn to the detail of his plans and the tone he sets in his first major speech. The event is expected to offer the clearest indication yet of how Andy Burnham intends to lead Labour and govern the UK in the days ahead.
