TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Andy Burnham was confirmed as the new leader of the UK's ruling Labour party on Friday, DW reported.
It means he is now set to take over from Keir Starmer as the next prime minister, the UK's seventh in the decade since the Brexit vote.
Labour enjoys a large majority in parliament, meaning the party leader automatically becomes the country's prime minister, without the need for fresh elections.
There were no challengers to Burnham's leadership bid — his third in total after attempts in 2010 and 2015 failed.
Burnham vows to 'give hope back' to people
In an address to fellow Labour Party members after his leadership confirmation, Burnham said he was "ready to lead and build" upon the foundation built by Starmer. He claimed that UK national healthcare service waiting times had been reduced under Starmer, railroads had been put back under public control and noted Starmer's work in putting the UK at the center of global affairs.
The new Labour Party leader vowed to "give hope back" to people and revitalize forgotten parts of the country.
He said that Britain took a "series of wrong turns in the 1980s" when "political power was centralized and economic power privatized." Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher pursued free market and deregulatory policies in the 1980s which led to a booming financial services sector in London but deindustralization in northern England.
In regards to the economy, Burnham called for greater public control of essentials to fight inflation.
"If we don't have sufficient public control over the cost of the essentials, how can we have control over inflation, public spending and the rest of the economy?" Burnham said.
Burnham will be a 'pro-business' Labour leader
At the same time, Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, said he "will be a pro-business leader of the Labour Party, as I was a pro-business mayor of Greater Manchester."
"We turn places round together, and that is the way we ran in Manchester, and we will take to the whole country," Burnham, citing his achievements as mayor. During his mayoral tenure, Manchester witnessed a spike in economic growth and a new integrated public transport model called the Bee Network.
Burnham spoke about the state of his party as he took the reins.
"We won't beat the right if we are infighting," Burnham said, while adding that "he won't suspend or punish Labour members with different views to mine." He said he hasn't yet decided on the members of his cabinet.
How did Burnham replace Starmer?
Burnham has been lined up to succeed Starmer for weeks.
He returned to parliament as a lawmaker following a by-election four weeks ago.
Starmer resigned in June amid mounting pressure over plummeting poll ratings and his appointment of Peter Mandelson as U.S. ambassador, a former associate of late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer's government has been tasked challenges such as inflation, overstretched public services and crises abroad such as ongoing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump has also attacked Starmer on issues such as energy and immigration.
Starmer will formally tender his resignation to King Charles III on Monday. After that, the King will then call on Burnham to form a cabinet.
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