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PM avoids jumping in on Heathrow debate, says it's 'a matter for London' published at 09:37 BST Moving on to reports that plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport could be delayed further, the prime minister says it is "principally a matter for London". Asked if he would back the plans, Burnham says its a "contested issue" and that the voices of people living nearby need to heard first. "Its not right for me to just jump in," he says, adding that the government will consider the way forward following public consultation.
Burnham urges people to avoid 'narrative of doom' published at 09:34 BST Burnham is now asked what he is "willing to ditch" to make the sums add up. He says his policies are carefully thought through. Giving examples, he says if you look at social care, "it's preventative" and means not having to spend "thousands of pounds" when people are unnecessarily in hospital.
If you support rough sleepers, that costs less than people doing in and out of police custody, he adds. Asked about Peter Kyle's comments ( urging Burnham to act with "more urgency" to boost economic growth ), Burnham says Kyle is "absolutely right" and adds that he "oversaw the fastest growing economy in the country" when he was mayor of Greater Manchester. He says Liverpool - where he is speaking from - is also growing faster than other places.
He urges people to avoid a "narrative of doom", and says the UK is the fastest-growing economy in the G7. "We're all repairing the damage of the Liz Truss mini-Budget," he adds. "I won't do what previous Conservative governments did and take risks with the economy that are actually still hurting us right now," Burnham says.
He adds that the government will "support people as best we can through the Budget" but in a way that is "highly prudent". PM commits to turn social care into election issue published at 09:32 BST Joe Pike Political correspondent Andy Burnham knows the political dangers that come with this social care policy - remember Theresa May in the 2017 election facing accusations she wanted to introduce a “dementia tax”? Precisely because of that, the PM’s pitch is to avoid political point-scoring and get cross-party consensus.
He claims the alternative is continuing with the current system which he argues is as “unfair as American healthcare”. And yet instead of avoiding social care reform becoming an election issue once again, the PM has committed to doing exactly that. Today he has committed to introducing a new social system in the next Parliament, and using the next general election to ask voters to approve his proposition of care service which is free at the point of use and paid for by everyone.
Burnham promises he will not 'do politics as usual' published at 09:28 BST Burnham says he is "not going to do politics as usual" as prime minister. "Politics has let people down, backed away from difficult issues," he says. "I am not going to do this." New national care service will be put to public in general election published at 09:27 BST There's more detail now on when exactly we might see firm proposals for a national care service.
The prime minister explains that because trust is important, he will develop a clear plan that is then put to the public at a general election. Burnham says this is when the plan will be tested before it is introduced in the next Parliament. When questioned by Kuenssberg, he confirms this will involve a care service that is free at the point of use, paid for by everyone, and with a "precise explanation" as to how it's going to be funded.
We'll hear more on this during a speech on Tuesday, he adds. Opposition parties will want to know how Burnham plans to pay for social care published at 09:24 BST Joe Pike Political correspondent Andy Burnham signals his upcoming social care reforms may mean a system of universal free care. That could involve people in England accessing free care at the point of use.
He says the system needs to "work on NHS principles" and that he will set out more in his conference speech on Tuesday. Burnham makes an emotive argument referencing the "humour, humanity and skill" of those who cared for his father Roy, who recently died after living with dementia. But opposition parties will want to know: how will he pay for it?
The PM says that the principle is "everyone contributes and everyone is covered" but "nothing is off the table". Current care system is 'as unfair as American healthcare', says Burnham published at 09:23 BST The prime minister goes on to say that social care in England is "as unfair as American healthcare" where the "most vulnerable in society can lose everything, they can be wiped out". Asked where the money will come from to tackle social care, Burnham says a review is ongoing and he will say more about plans "later this week".
He says he won't do anything where he cannot look the public "in the eye and say I think it is the right thing to do" and that he "will not dodge difficult questions". Asked if reformed social care will mean more tax, the prime minister says it will be a system where "everyone contributes" but not necessarily in the same way as the NHS. Burnham warns: 'Broken social care will in the end break the NHS' published at 09:17 BST Kuenssberg now presses Burnham on whether he is proposing universal free social care.
He says he will set out more this week at the Labour Party's conference, including a timetable. "I am talking about a system that works on NHS principles," he says, describing this as "the only way you can make it work". He says there is free personal care elsewhere in the UK and he doesn't think it's right that people in England don't get the same.
He says it "has to be done carefully without putting extra strain on the public purse" but says he'll bring forward proposals. He also notes that Baroness Louise Casey is still doing her official review. "I'm not going to do what others have done" and look "in a different direction", he says, adding that "broken social care will in the end break the NHS".
Government to introduce universal national care service to fix 'threadbare' system, says PM published at 09:14 BST Andy Burnham is asked by Kuenssberg to clarify exactly what a new social care system might look like, and when it might happen. The prime minister replies that he wants a "national care service", where the care system speaks the same language as the health system. At the moment, he says, the two don't connect.
This is because the care system is so "threadbare" that it can't support people in care homes, or people struggle to pay for care support, Burnham explains. He says this means people end up in hospitals, which are the most expensive part of the system, and that's not necessarily where they should be. Burnham pledges to 'grasp the nettle' on tackling social care published at 09:11 BST Andy Burnham is up first, when asked about plans on social care he says his government is "making really good process".
He says the death of his father "has been hard" but that it "pushes him on" to sort out social care, adding that he is going to "grasp the nettle". "It's devastating actually to be here.. Parliament just ignoring this issue because they consider it too difficult," he tells Laura Kuenssberg.
Burnham adds: "Is it any wonder that politics is in such low esteem with the public if it can't fix something as basic [as this]?" And we're off... published at 09:01 BST Cue the music... Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg has just started. As a reminder, you can watch live at the top of the page.
We'll also bring you the key lines here. Andy Burnham about to face questions from Laura Kuenssberg - watch live published at 08:54 BST Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg is just about to get started. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is in the hot seat this morning, live from Liverpool as the Labour Party conference kicks off - his first as party leader.
Ahead of the conference, the PM has announced a new scheme to help first-time buyers get on the housing ladder. The government also plans to make it simpler for councils to take over empty homes to provide housing for those in need. We'll also have shadow home secretary Chris Philp on the programme, as well as former business secretary Peter Kyle and the BBC's new director-general, Matt Brittin.
You'll be able to watch live at the top of the page once the programme starts. You can also follow along on iPlayer or BBC One. Burnham heads to Liverpool fresh from visit to United Nations published at 08:44 BST Ahead of Burnham's trip to the north-west of England for the Labour Party conference - his first as leader - the prime minister experienced another first earlier this week.
Here's a quick look at his visit to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York: Image source, Getty Images Image caption, In his UNGA speech, Burnham said the UK would create a new data centre to "stem the poisonous tide" of disinformation, including from Russia, and work to establish global safety standards for artificial intelligence Image source, PA Media Image caption, In remarks to media following their meeting, US President Donald Trump said he can do business with Burnham. He then said he thought a deal to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands from Britain to Mauritius was "terrible" Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Before attending the General Assembly, Burnham met Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez for an early-morning walk around New York's Central Park Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Burnham also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where he reiterated the UK's full support for Kyiv in defending itself from Russia's invasion Here's what else has been happening in politics this week published at 08:33 BST Image source, Reuters Image caption, A group of migrants board an inflatable dinghy before leaving the coast of northern France in an attempt to reach Britain, earlier this month Small boat crossings: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered a review into how two boats reached the UK without being intercepted. Elgin Marbles: The Greek PM, writing in the Guardian, reminded Burnham that in 2023, when he was mayor of Manchester, he had said the Parthenon sculptures should be returned to Greece with "no strings attached".
Tories push benefit restrictions: Kemi Badenoch said her party would prevent long-term jobless benefit claimants from spending welfare payments on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling, and cut universal credit by 30% for those unemployed for more than six months if they have not previously paid enough into the system, despite being able to work. Lib Dems promise tax cuts: Speaking at his party's conference in Brighton, Ed Davey said his party would reduce the income tax paid by millions of workers. UK to help Saudis counter Houthi attacks: Britain will deploy a military aircraft to help refuel Saudi Arabian fighter jets in the country's conflict with Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
By-election, Budget and G20: What's coming up for Burnham? published at 08:25 BST Image source, Getty Images Image caption, This year's G20 summit begins in Miami on 20 December Andy Burnham has attended his first UN General Assembly meeting, met Donald Trump for the first time and is about to face his first Labour Party conference as PM. Other significant tests for his government also loom on the horizon: John Healey will deliver his first Budget as chancellor on 28 October, with the government facing pressure from the UK's unexpected borrowing surge The Holborn and St Pancras by-election on 8 October will determine who will succeed former PM Keir Starmer as MP Burnham will travel to Miami for the G20 meeting, which begins on 20 December - next year, he'll host the same summit in Manchester More channels and radio stations may have to close, BBC director general says published at 08:16 BST Media caption, 'We can't guarantee any programme or channel forever' - Matt Brittin The BBC's director general, Matt Brittin, told Laura Kuenssberg in an interview earlier this week that changing audience habits "may well mean" some channels and radio stations have to close in order for resources to be invested in on-demand services. While his focus is to "minimise the impact on the audience", he says "the tight financial situation means that we're having to look at some of those decisions a bit sooner than we might like".
In recent months, the BBC has announced a series of closures including Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind, Live at the Apollo and Football Focus, with further cuts expected. Brittin took over as BBC director general in May after a decade as president of Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. You can read Laura's earlier story on her interview with Matt Brittin, and we'll be hearing more from him in the programme a little later on.
Burnham announces scheme to help first-time buyers onto housing ladder published at 08:04 BST Joe Pike, Richard Wheeler and Claire Keenan BBC Politics Image source, Getty Images Prime Minister Andy Burnham is to introduce a new scheme to try to help people "who have given up hope of ever having a home to call their own" get on the property ladder. The "Your First Home" scheme would be open to first-time buyers in England with a deposit of 2.5%. It would provide them with a loan worth 20% of their new build property's value to help pay for the purchase.
Burnham said: "Too many young people are struggling with the cost of housing, with many giving up hope of ever having a home to call their own. "So we will step in to help more first-time buyers on to the housing ladder." On Sunday, the government also shared plans it said would make it simpler for councils to take over empty homes to provide housing for those in need. The announcements come as the prime minister prepares for his first Labour conference as leader.
Read more from our political reporters here Here's who else is on today's show published at 07:57 BST Image source, PA Media Image caption, Shadow home secretary Chris Philp Prime Minister Andy Burnham gets top billing on this morning's programme, but who else are we going to hear from? Shadow home secretary Chris Philp will be fielding questions in the hot seat later this morning. We'll also be hearing more from Kuenssberg's separate sit-downs with BBC director-general Matt Brittin and former business secretary Peter Kyle - we'll bring you more on these interviews shortly.
On this morning's panel: Gloria De Piero - Former Labour MP and now GB News presenter Steve Rotheram - Mayor of the Liverpool City Region and longstanding friend of Burnham Darren Jones - Starmer ally and former chief secretary to the prime minister Image source, PA/Reuters Image caption, From left to right: Gloria De Piero, Steve Rotheram and Darren Jones How long can Labour's feel-good factor last? published at 07:42 BST Laura Kuenssberg Presenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Image source, Getty Images Andy Burnham might not yet have delivered his all-important conference speech, but he has been preparing for this moment for years. He'll lap up the inevitable whoops and cheers – not just as Labour's leader, but the kind of leader who chimes with the party's rank and file, who puts social justice at the top of his list, who is not averse to cranking up the greatest hits – whether taking a pop at Mrs Thatcher, privatisation, or the divides between north and south. Speaking to MPs, ministers and advisers inside the party, there is no doubt whatsoever that Labour is in a much, much happier place than this time last year.
But however much Burnham loves being PM there are also less tempting realities he'll have to confront. One senior figure warns that what's coming could turn things sour. "The Budget looks like a disaster – by Halloween we'll be looking at something else," predicting a big change in mood.
That portent of doom doesn't match the overall atmosphere around Labour right now, but there is a quiet creeping concern about whether Burnham's rhetoric of hope, and change, the classic political mantras, can be matched with people's experience. Read Laura Kuenssberg's full analysis here Burnham 'knocks dead' speculation of early election published at 07:34 BST Richard Wheeler and Kate Whannel Political reporters Media caption, Burnham: 'No election anytime soon' Andy Burnham says he isn't tempted to call an early general election, arguing it would throw "the country into a backward-looking process". The prime minister said on Friday his focus was on supporting businesses and helping people with the cost of living.
Recent polling suggests Labour's position has improved since Burnham replaced Keir Starmer in July, although Reform UK and the Conservatives are not far behind. An early general election could give Burnham a mandate of his own and free him from commitments made in Labour's 2024 manifesto. The next general election must be held by August 2029.
Asked by ITV Calendar if the next election would be in 2029, Burnham replied: "All of this speculation on an early election, I can knock that dead." Read more from our political reporters here
Source: BBC
