Andy Burnham has received a stark warning from former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who advised the incoming leader that he should not expect to be universally loved upon taking office.
Blair cautioned that Burnham, who is poised to become Prime Minister, is "not going to be loved" and faces the difficult realities of leadership after Keir Starmer. This advice came as Burnham was reportedly given an easy reception at a private hustings with the Parliamentary Labour Party. During the session, Burnham is said to have made general statements about 'change' and the party being a 'broad church,' emphasizing his desire to ensure 'everyone is valued, seen and listened to.'
One Labour MP described Burnham's current period as a 'honeymoon' and noted that questions at the hustings seemed pre-arranged, primarily coming from MPs who had already declared their support. Burnham formally secured the 323 nominations from MPs required to become leader and Prime Minister without a formal contest, officially becoming Labour leader on Friday and Prime Minister on Monday.
At his summer reception, Blair, Labour's most successful leader, shared his perspective on entering Downing Street, stating, "I think you may think you're going to be loved, but you're not going to be." Blair also stressed the importance for Burnham to maintain a strong relationship with the United States and cautioned against adopting Ed Miliband's net-zero policies.
Blair, who previously appointed Burnham to his government, expressed well wishes for his success, acknowledging Burnham as a "genuinely people person." However, concerns persist regarding the clarity of Burnham's policy agenda, particularly his tax and spending plans. He is reportedly planning a significant 'mega-Budget' in the autumn, which could include a major fiscal package and a full spending review.
There are also reports of potential tax increases targeting the 'wealthy' South, with proposals such as a land tax, council tax revaluation, and an enhanced mansion tax to fund initiatives in council housing and public control of utilities. Burnham has so far committed to adhering to the Labour manifesto and increasing devolution, but has not detailed specific tax or spending proposals. His ascent to leadership has been noted as lacking a broad public mandate, with his by-election support representing a small fraction of the electorate.