Andy Burnham confirmed as Labour leader at special conference

Burnham, the Makerfield MP, won a by-election in the constituency last month and received nominations from 379 Labour MPs and most affiliated trade unions earlier this week.

Sir Keir Starmer resigned as party leader last month after Labour suffered losses in May's local elections. Starmer told Sky News during a visit to Ukraine on Thursday that he wanted an orderly transition and had built a sound foundation for his successor. In his speech on Friday, Burnham will commit to being a leader for every nation and region of the UK.

He will say the economy requires a new path after 40 years and will call for more public control of utilities and reindustrialisation, while paying tribute to Starmer for the 2024 general election victory. Steve Rotherham, mayor of Liverpool City Region, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that suggestions Burnham's premiership would amount to the same policies under different messaging were absolutely deluded.

Graham Stringer, one of 24 Labour MPs who did not nominate Burnham, said a whole series of major policies remained a mystery.

Burnham has proposed a new No 10 unit in Manchester to give local government more control over housing and transport. In a video posted on social media, he said he would expend considerable political capital on social care and plans a listening tour of the UK during the summer parliamentary recess.

The International Monetary Fund warned Burnham's incoming government to avoid increasing public spending amid pressures such as rising household energy bills.