Burnham set for first Labour conference speech as PM

Andy Burnham returns to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool as prime minister, shifting from a fringe speaker last year to the central figure tasked with outlining the nation's future direction.

An internal Downing Street memo indicates he will unveil broad themes centred around a 10 Year Plan, which places making life more affordable at its core. He is also expected to revisit familiar proposals, including technical education reforms and a renewed push for council house building.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

However, Labour's largest union benefactor, Unite, has pressed for more robust and immediate interventions on living costs. The union's proposed motions include an energy price cap, unfreezing tax thresholds, and introducing a windfall tax on banks to subsidise energy bills.

"People are going to know the direction I want to take this country and I will set it down quite clearly,"

Andy Burnham

Meanwhile, John Healey faces his debut conference speech as chancellor on Monday. With borrowing costs recently soaring to their second highest level, his policy flexibility remains constrained as observers watch whether the Treasury will break from past approaches.