Burnham makes first speech as prime minister, Reed steps down as part of housing – Mortgage Strategy
New prime minister Andy Burnham has announced that he will launch a 10-year plan for Britain later this year.
Burnham becomes the UK’s seventh prime minister in just over a decade, taking over from Sir Kier Starmer.
Today, Steve Reed also announced his resignation as housing secretary.
In his two-page letter to new prime minister Burnham, Reed said: “I am disappointed to be leaving government now, I wish your new party every success.”
Reed took over as housing secretary in September last year following the resignation of Angela Rayner over her tax affairs.
Burnham’s first speech
Speaking today, in his first speech as prime minister, Burnham said: “Later this year, I will deliver a new plan for Britain, a 10-year plan, which paves the way from where we are now to where I believe we all want to be in Britain, wherever we come from, and whichever party we support.”
He also mentioned that “we will build more council houses”. This comes after he promised the biggest council housing program since the war.
In a speech at the end of June, Burnham said the housing crisis is having a “devastating impact” on public finances.
Housing was one of the key domestic policies in prime minister Keir Starmer’s 2024 general election manifesto, with a ambitious promise to build 1.5 million new homes over the five-year parliament.
Savills recently predicted that only half of the government’s annual target of 300,000 new homes will be completed over the next five years.
Commenting on today’s speech from Burnham, Propertymark chief executive Nathan Emerson said: “Propertymark welcomes Andy Burnham to Downing Street, and we look forward to learning more about the proposals aimed at tackling the current housing crisis.
“In the coming months, it will be vital that the sector has a clear opportunity to engage with the UK Government on key housing issues, to help ensure that the manifesto commitment to deliver 1.5 million homes across England is realised.”
“Looking at the big picture, the housing mix must be delivered with a regional focus and supported by strong local infrastructure. Building homes is a challenge; building well-designed, functional communities must be the goal.”
Today, the new prime minister said his first priority is to launch an urgent national campaign to end rough sleeping.
Burnham said: “On my first day as Prime Minister, I am announcing this government’s commitment to ending rough sleeping across the UK as quickly as possible.”
The Institute of Economic Affairs’ senior economist, Valentin Boboc, comments: “The ongoing problem of rough sleeping shows just how bad the housing shortage is in Britain.
