Burnham promises more devolution and public control of essential services

In his first address to the House of Commons as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham outlined plans for stronger public control of essential services, citing the water industry as a failure of privatization. He promised to extend devolution powers to more areas in England, including working with Cornwall on a deal with or without a mayor. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the approach as offering more government control and taxes. Burnham also paid tribute to predecessor Sir Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation as MP. He discussed welfare, leasehold reform, and defence spending, and said he would look at the voting system but not before the next election.