Former premiers set out early tests as Burnham readies for No 10
As Andy Burnham prepares to enter Downing Street on Monday, two of his Conservative predecessors have set out public advice on how to handle the opening days in office. While Sir Keir Starmer has declined to offer guidance in public, Rishi Sunak has outlined a blunt assessment of the pressure on time and the need to define a small number of priorities immediately. Boris Johnson has also contributed separate remarks in a broadcast interview.
Writing in the Sunday press, Mr Sunak reflected on his own entry to No 10 and the speed at which decisions stack up. He urged Mr Burnham to take in the significance of the moment — and then move fast to shape the centre of government around clear aims, strong ministerial appointments and regular outreach to Parliament. He framed the opening phase as decisive for momentum across Whitehall.
“Soak up every second,” Mr Sunak wrote, adding that once through the door it was “imperative” to “have a plan”.
Mr Sunak argued that a prime minister who tries to do everything risks achieving little. He advised focusing on “two or three” headline priorities and ensuring they are driven from No 10, with Cabinet posts assigned to the most capable individuals in line with those aims. The message was that early clarity, communicated when a new leader’s standing is at its peak, is essential for delivery across departments.
Foreign policy choice flagged as pivotal
On personnel, the former prime minister drew attention to the balance of the top economic and diplomatic portfolios. While public discussion has lingered on who might become Chancellor — with names such as Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood circulating — Mr Sunak suggested the appointment of the Foreign Secretary would carry even greater weight for Mr Burnham’s strategy.
He reasoned that if Mr Burnham intends to devote more energy to domestic matters than his immediate predecessor, he will need a senior figure at the Foreign Office with the stature to represent the UK credibly and consistently on the world stage. That, Mr Sunak indicated, would create space for the Prime Minister to keep a tighter grip on home-front priorities.
| Role | Why it matters now |
|---|---|
| Foreign Secretary | Requires a widely recognised figure able to front UK diplomacy, enabling the PM to emphasise domestic agenda. |
| Chancellor | Central to delivering any economic priorities; names discussed publicly include Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood. |
Mr Sunak also pointed to the currency of personal relationships in diplomacy, recalling that his dealings with Ursula von der Leyen were central to concluding the Windsor Framework. In his telling, only a prime minister-to-leader channel could ultimately unlock such agreements, even with a heavyweight foreign secretary in place.
What this means for North Somerset
Early decisions in No 10 typically set the tone for working with MPs and local leaders. Mr Sunak emphasised regular engagement with the parliamentary party; for North Somerset residents, the signal is that effective lines between Downing Street and the Commons can influence how swiftly constituency issues are heard and escalated. That matters on everything from infrastructure bids and health service pressures to policing and local economic support.
If the new administration concentrates on a small number of headline objectives, there will be knock-on effects for the timing and scope of departmental initiatives. Residents should look out for where the first signals land — for example, whether early statements and Budget planning prioritise areas that touch daily life locally, such as transport reliability, NHS performance, skills and housing supply. The shape of the Cabinet and the seniority of ministers handling those briefs will indicate the likely pace of change.
- Ministerial picks in the first days are a practical guide to which policies will move first.
- Communication to Whitehall — if crisp and early — can reduce drift on delivery.
- Regular contact with MPs may influence how quickly constituency challenges reach decision-makers.
Johnson also weighs in
Mr Johnson has separately offered his own pointers to the incoming prime minister in a television interview. Although details of his remarks were not published in full in the same report, his intervention underlines how former occupants of No 10 often portray the early weeks as uniquely intense, with choices made now echoing through the rest of a premiership.
Next steps as Burnham takes office
As Monday approaches, attention will focus on the announcement of the Cabinet, the first statement from Downing Street and early contact with international counterparts. If the Foreign Office is given to a recognisable figure with global heft, as urged by Mr Sunak, that will be read as a bid to free up the Prime Minister’s time for domestic governance. Conversely, a less high-profile appointment may signal Mr Burnham intends to remain closely involved in external affairs alongside his home agenda.
For residents, the practical measure will be whether departments move quickly on the ground. The advice set out by Mr Sunak — to narrow priorities, appoint on capability, and set out expectations to the civil service immediately — is a reminder that administrative clarity in the first days can shape service delivery months down the line. Local representatives will be watching for those signals to judge where bids for support stand as the new government beds in.
