New Prime Minister Andy Burnham Pledges 'To Be Better'

Industry News

Today, Andy Burnham has become the new Prime Minister of Great Britain, the sixth in the past decade.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, he said politicians need “to raise our game”, pledging to “make politics work, to make it work better”.

He added: “We have not been good enough, and we need to be better.”

Saying that his premiership will create a new political and economic model, the new prime minister promised to change politics by making it more collaborative and more about problem solving than point scoring.

He referred to plans to bring basic services into public control and to re-industrialising the country through public procurement.

His objectives for his term will be published later this year, in a 10-year plan with interim, costed measures introduced to alleviate the cost of living, starting tomorrow.

Andy Burnham also mention changing the education system and providing more mental health support, as well as building more council homes.

Finally, he said his first instruction will be to end rough sleeping.

COMMENT

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) said if the Government is serious about devolving power away from Westminster and driving growth in towns, cities, and regions across the country, it must work with the thousands of SME building firms already rooted in those communities.

Details

Brian Berry, FMB CEO

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Builders will be looking closely at how Andy Burnham’s new government intends to deliver on its ambitions. His commitment to spreading power and opportunity to every postcode in Britain will resonate with communities across the country.

“If the Government is serious about devolving power and delivering growth in every region, small local builders must be part of that vision. Rooted in the communities they serve, the nation’s builders are uniquely placed to deliver the homes, jobs and economic growth needed in every town, city and region of the UK.”

Berry continued: “Today’s speech set out a broad vision for Britain, but we need to see the details. As Andy Burnham’s government develops its ten-year plan, we need to see a greater role for SME builders in delivering new homes, including this Government’s ambition to roll out a new generation of council houses.

“Alongside this, action must be taken to tackle skills issues in construction, accelerate the retrofit of existing homes, support small businesses to grow, and introduce a mandatory licensing scheme for domestic building companies to raise standards and protect consumers. The nation’s network of local builders stands ready to work with the Government to turn ambition into delivery.”

Critical Time

Justin Young, RICS CEO

Justin Young, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), said: “The new Prime Minister takes office at a critical time for the built and natural environment. Increasing the supply of quality affordable homes, strengthening infrastructure, and supporting the transition to a lower-carbon economy will require stable, long-term and evidence-led policymaking.

“RICS will assist the Prime Minister to maintain the momentum behind the Government’s recently announced home buying and selling reforms and make their effective implementation an early priority.

“The Prime Minister’s commitment to reinvigorating council house building is welcome, but ambition will need to be matched by delivery capacity. Local authorities will need the professional skills, resources and professional support to turn that ambition into homes.

“Above all, financial investment, both domestic and international is crucial for delivering so much of this. Creating a business environment which promotes confidence for investors goes together with regulatory and planning reform. Clarity and confidence is the motor for investment and results, not just for house building, but across all sectors of the built environment.”

Confidence

Victoria Hills, CIOB CEO

Dr Victoria Hills, CEO at CIOB, said: “We welcome the new Prime Minister into his role and look forward to working with the new government to help tackle the UK’s housing, infrastructure and skills challenges.

“Close engagement between ministers, professional bodies and industry experts will be essential to ensure policy is shaped by those delivering projects on the ground. We welcome the opportunity to meet with any new ministers to assist with their areas of responsibility and highlight the important contribution the construction industry can make in delivering positive outcomes for communities.

“There has long been a strong case for devolving more skills funding and decision-making to combined and local authorities as well as empowering mayors to work closer with local employers, educators and trainers to tackle local skills gaps and enable opportunities. CIOB has consistently acknowledged that regional leaders are best placed to understand local demand and the skills required to deliver priorities like retrofitting, housing and infrastructure. We look forward to continuing to work with Government as meaningful devolution takes shape.

“The industry also needs certainty. Changes in ministerial leadership and shifts in long-term policy impact businesses’ ability to plan, invest and recruit. We hope the new Prime Minister can provide stable leadership, honour long-term infrastructure commitments and work with the sector to give industry the confidence to deliver the homes, infrastructure and economic growth the UK needs.”