Andy Burnham set to become UK prime minister, eyes welfare cuts and pension reforms

Andy Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, is expected to replace Keir Starmer as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after winning the Makerfield by‑election. In office, he will inherit a review of Personal Independence Payments (PIP), the main disability benefit, which is due back to ministers in the autumn. Burnham has said he is “not squeamish” about reducing the welfare bill but rules out “crude” early cuts, pledging a preventative approach to move people into work.

His advisers, including former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane, have signalled that the state‑pension triple lock could be scrapped after the next general election to protect public finances. The new prime minister is also proposing a crackdown on benefits fraud, with Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Employment and Support Allowance identified as the most vulnerable programmes. The Department for Work and Pensions estimates fraud and error cost £10 billion a year and a new eligibility verification measure would give officials greater powers to obtain claimant information.

Burnham’s economic team is calling for broader tax reforms, longer‑term fiscal forecasting and a “vibe change” across British business, emphasizing decentralisation and a “devolution revolution”. All proposals are framed as part of a wider effort to lower the welfare bill while supporting growth.