Preparations are underway for Andy Burnham's move into Downing Street as Britain's next Prime Minister, with domestic items like pillows and kitchen pots being moved into the official residence. However, Burnham's intention to divide his time between London and his family home in Manchester has already encountered a significant obstacle.
Security experts have reportedly vetoed his Northern family home due to its proximity to a public swimming pool, raising concerns about the feasibility of securing the residence. This decision poses a challenge to his plan to spend one or two days a week based in the North, potentially at a new department situated on a GCHQ site.
Upon his arrival at Buckingham Palace to formally kiss hands with King Charles, Burnham is expected to be briefed by Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo and senior naval commanders. This briefing will include sensitive procedures, such as the preparation of "letters of last resort" to Trident submarine commanders in the event of a nuclear attack, replacing those left by outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. He will also be tasked with selecting key aides to join him in a potential nuclear bunker and receiving calls from world leaders.
The transition will also involve an immediate reshuffling of the Cabinet. Burnham is scheduled to meet with outgoing ministers in the House of Commons in the afternoon before returning to Downing Street to appoint their successors under media scrutiny. He will also be introduced to the staff managing his daily life, including those in the Prime Minister's flat.
The logistical complexities of a split premiership extend beyond personal arrangements. Challenges include relocating sufficient civil servants to a northern base, with staff lists already being compiled, and addressing the unreliable Wi-Fi connectivity on the train routes between London and Manchester.
Previous Prime Ministers, including Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak, explored similar ideas of not living full-time at Downing Street but found the demands of the office made it impractical. Both Starmer and Sunak faced security incidents at their family homes, including a firebombing attributed to Kremlin-backed actors and an invasion by environmental activists, respectively. Burnham would also need to introduce his rescue dog, Axel, to Larry the cat, Downing Street's long-serving resident "chief mouser."