Burnham's Bumpy Road Ahead: Big Decisions Await as Parliament Returns

Andy Burnham, the UK's new prime minister, had a fairly good summer, announcing plans to help people with rising costs. But now that parliament has returned, he faces a long list of hard problems. Some of his choices could upset voters, members of his own party, or both. It will not be an easy few months.

Two oil and gas fields in the North Sea — Rosebank and Jackdaw — have been in legal limbo for a year after a court ruled that the previous government broke the law when it approved drilling. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh must now decide whether drilling can go ahead. Burnham says he wants to take a 'pragmatic,' or practical, approach, carefully weighing the costs and benefits.

Reports say Burnham will likely approve the Jackdaw gasfield, which could supply about 6% of the UK's future gas needs. But experts say this won't lower people's bills, since gas is sold on a global market. Burnham is less sure about Rosebank, which a former minister called 'climate vandalism.' This decision is especially sensitive after a summer of record-breaking heat linked to climate change.

Burnham is also set to meet US President Donald Trump in September at the United Nations in New York City. The meeting could be awkward — Burnham once called Trump 'poisonous' and said he would not be welcome in Manchester. Trump, in turn, has mocked Burnham by calling him 'the mayor of a town.'

Despite that history, the two leaders had a warm phone call after Burnham took office. Burnham said, 'We had a good phone call on my first day in office and looking forward to meeting in person.' Trump responded positively, saying that if Burnham opens up North Sea oil, the UK will become a wealthier country. Burnham hopes to use the meeting to build support for Ukraine in its ongoing war.

Back home, Burnham also faces pressure over a bill about election rules and political donations. He once supported a cap of £500,000 on individual political donations, but he has reportedly dropped that idea after lobbying from unions. Nearly 100 Labour MPs are pushing him to set up a commission on changing how elections work within his first 100 days in office.

Immigration is another big challenge. The number of people coming to the UK is at its lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the number of asylum seekers in hotels has dropped by half. Even so, the Reform Party has made immigration its top issue and will use a new autumn bill to attack Burnham's record. Some Labour MPs are also upset, saying his asylum plans are too harsh.

The budget is one of the most complex problems Burnham faces. He has promised lower taxes for pubs and cheaper bus fares, but he also pledged not to raise income tax, sales tax, or national insurance. The Iran war has made the economy less stable and reduced the government's financial cushion. Most analysts expect some tax rises to be announced.

Welfare is also on the agenda, with a review of the system due this autumn that will force hard choices. Burnham must decide whether to cut the Personal Independence Payment, which helps disabled people — a move disability groups strongly oppose. A separate report on one million young people not in work or school is also expected. Both reports will demand action.

Finally, energy bills are set to rise 4% in October due to the Iran war pushing up prices, and Thames Water is nearly out of money. Burnham wants to bring Thames Water under public control but fears expensive legal battles with lenders. He is said to be considering changes to insolvency laws to make a government takeover cheaper and smoother. Decisions on both issues must come very soon.