The United Kingdom’s incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to face several massive challenges that previous outgoing Prime Ministers attempted to deal with. From the housing shortage to rising welfare costs, Burnham has some complex problems ahead of his tenure.
Housing: Delivering more homes
The UK government has promised to build 1.5 million new homes, but it is well behind schedule. Delivery of only around 204,000 homes were completed last year, far below the annual target needed to meet the original promise. Burnham has said he wants the biggest council house-building programme in decades to make homes more affordable. However, building more homes will require billions of pounds in extra government funding or borrowing.
Social care: Fixing the system
Millions of older people in England are not getting the care they need. Many families also face huge care bills, with some people paying more than £100,000 over their lifetime. Many past governments have tried to reform social care, but no major changes have been implemented. Burnham is expected to push for faster reforms, although improving the system is likely to cost billions.
Welfare: Bringing costs down
The UK’s bill for sickness and disability benefits has grown rapidly and is expected to keep rising. A growing number of younger people are claiming support, particularly for mental health conditions. Past attempts to reduce spending have faced political backlash and criticism. Burnham says he wants to lower the welfare bill by helping more people get hobs instead of making deep cuts to benefits.
Jobs for young people
More than one million young people in the UK are unemployed or not attaining education. Reports say falling apprenticeship numbers have made it harder for young people to upskill and find employment. The incoming PM has argued that schools must focus more on vocational education. His government is expected to invest more in apprenticeships, training programmes and work placements.
Defence: Paying for higher military spending
The UK is under pressure to increase defence spending as security threats grow. Meeting future NATO spending targets could cost tens of billions of pounds more annually. Finding that money could mean higher borrowing, spending cuts elsewhere or new ways to fundraise. Alongside increasing spending, Burnham would also need to improve management of defence projects, as many are delayed or over budget.