UK PM Burnham Pledges Public Control of Water and Energy, Electoral Reform and EU Reset at Labour Conference

Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his keynote address to the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool on September 29 to lay out an ambitious domestic agenda he described as building "a new economy and new politics," vowing to do things his predecessors would not. The speech marked his first conference address as prime minister and set the tone for what he framed as a decisive break from years of drift.

Burnham announced plans to bring water, energy and housing under greater public control, framing the move as central to economic growth. He pledged to repeal the ban on public ownership of water companies that has been in place since the 1980s, opening the door for the state to take direct stakes in the sector.

On the pension triple lock, Burnham said the policy would be adjusted in 2030, signalling a willingness to touch one of the most politically sensitive commitments in British social policy. He also announced a new commission to review the UK's electoral system, a significant step toward potential reform of the voting structure.

Burnham declared that Brexit had not delivered the promised return of control to Britain, a candid admission that sets the stage for a recalibrated relationship with the European Union. He confirmed that a UK-EU summit later this year will focus on areas of closer cooperation, signalling a deliberate move to reset ties with the bloc.