“I’ll back Andy premiership of “care”, “values” and “hope”, if he’s as good as his word” – George 

Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, is a friend of Burnham’s from their previous time together in Parliament. In a statement following Mr Burnham becoming Prime Minister today, Andrew George said:

“I wish Andy Burnham well now he’s been “enthroned” into Downing Street. Though I didn’t like how his predecessor was treated, what is done is done. 

“I know Andy. We worked on projects together in the past. Played in the same (House of Commons) football team, and shared campaign material and plans. I believe he’s motivated to do the right thing for those who most need help. But, like most Prime Ministers, it really depends on the character of the people he gathers around him. After all, they determine his diary, who he sees and is influenced by, who briefs him and what he sees and hears. 

“I’ll be doing all I can to make sure he listens to the voices of our part of the world and not just his primary poles of Manchester and Westminster. 

“He’s promised to deliver a resolution to the challenges of a dysfunctional social care system. Baroness Casey confirmed to me in the Health Committee recently that she does not need to delay her commissioned Social Care Inquiry till 2028, as previously timetabled. This can come early. Andy Burnham needs to speed this up and set a finish date this year. 

“Similarly, I’m keen to use my Private Members’ Bill on Homes and Planning to support the new Prime Minister in speeding up solutions to combat the widening inequality in housing supply. 

“I’ll work with and support the new Prime Minister and his government if the kindly mood and themes of his opening address are followed through with policy to genuinely deliver it. But I’ll call him out and oppose if he doesn’t.”