Burnham vows to deliver radical change despite ‘challenging’ economic outlook

Andy Burnham has said he can deliver radical change despite the “challenging’ economic outlook the country faces. Speaking as Labour party conference begins, Burnham said the country’s fiscal outlook remains difficult but that next month’s Budget would provide “crucial” stability. Speaking to The Guardian, he said: “The public would have more respect for us if we go and grab something difficult … and say, ‘Right, we’re going to do something here’, rather than constantly playing the political game before fixing the problems. “It’s challenging, definitely, but there are still things that you can do. Always in politics, there are things that you can do. The question is sometimes: Are you prepared to do them? Yeah, I am prepared to do them.” Follow The i Paper’s live blog for the latest updates. Sort: September 27, 2026 8:18 amAnalysis: Burnham arrives for conference but can he deliver the change he promised? Labour gathers in Liverpool this weekend for its annual party conference with a new leader, a new message of hope and a renewed promise of change.For Andy Burnham, it is a remarkable return.A year ago he left conference under a cloud.A series of pointed interventions about Keir Starmer’s leadership had backfired, and his nascent leadership ambitions looked to be floundering.Twelve months on, he is back, this time as Prime Minister, having traded the mayoralty of Greater Manchester for Downing Street.But the big test of this conference is a simple one: how much has actually changed since Starmer packed his bags in July?This week is his chance to shake them off. Expect him to use the conference to stamp his own style and authority on the party, and to set out a clear agenda that is recognisably his.The tone is likely to be more boosterish than his predecessor’s: more optimism, more ambition, less managerial caution. We should also see the first outlines of his ten-year programme for government, with more of the detail to follow after the Budget.The central charge against Starmer was that nobody knew what the story of his government was. Voters could list the things it was doing but not what it was for. Burnham knows that better than anyone, having made the point himself from the sidelines. His task now is to make sure there is no doubt about who he is and what his government stands for.How much impact any of this will ultimately have remains to be seen. The real moment of truth will be the Budget on 28 October, when we find out whether, despite all the promises, Burnham can actually afford to deliver the change he is offering against such a difficult economic backdrop. Nor will he be able to control events abroad. From Ukraine to Iran, the geopolitical landscape will likely shape his premiership, and it is one over which he has little leverage. EXPLORE MORE ON THE TOPICS IN THIS STORY