UK Column News — 2nd September 2026

**Mike Robinson** (0:08)
Good afternoon, it's Wednesday, the 2nd of September, 2026, just after one o'clock. Welcome to UK Column News. I'm a host, Mike Robinson. Joining me by video link today are Charles Malet and Vanessa Beeley. Later in the program, we'll be reporting on the further militarization of the high north, Israel's expansion of influence in Europe. This, well, is a discam of plug in solar energy. Well, Charles will be talking about that later, and we'll be asking why no mainstream media is apparently covering what is being described as one of the biggest child recovery operations in American history. But of course, we're going to have to begin with Parliament because the school children are back in the House of Commons following the school holidays.
Yesterday, Andy Burnham gave his inaugural speech as Prime Minister. Let's get, I'm sorry to list everybody, and let's get a feeling for what he said.

**Andy Burnham** (0:57)
With permission, Mr. Speaker, I wish to make a statement on the direction in which I will lead our country. I come before this House, having visited each of the regions and nations of the UK over the last six weeks and Ukraine on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of its independence. The UK's steadfast support has helped sustain Ukraine's resolve over the last four and a half years, particularly so in the last two. That was the achievement of my predecessor. And as he stands down from this place, I want to pay tribute to the right honourable member for Holborn and St. Pancras.
He has given this country a lifetime of public service, Mr Speaker, particularly for those fighting for justice. When my right honourable friend delivered in this house on his promise to the Hillsborough families and everyone involved in the Hillsborough law campaign, it was a moment I will never forget. His leadership took our party from one of its worst defeats to its best victories and created a platform to change this country for the better. We will use it well, Mr Speaker, and we wish his family the very best for the future. The position my right honourable friend took on Ukraine, building on the work of his predecessors as Prime Minister, is one which I will not change, whatever the threats we face.
We do not seek escalation, but instead we'll stand firm in providing what help we can to enable Ukraine to defend itself from this illegal invasion. Britain's defence starts in Ukraine and the defence of our nation will always be my first priority.

**Mike Robinson** (3:02)
So no change on defence and security policy. We're going to still go into war with Russia apparently, but some of the other policy agendas in the US setting included his attendance at the COP 31
No doubt with all his other city leader colleagues. The continuing politicking over early release from prisons. I'm going to mention that again in a second. Continuing nationalisation of services, including bus services in Liverpool and interventions to prevent bus service collapses in the West Midlands. Water was mentioned, of course. And he announced a forthcoming 10 year plan for Britain to set out stronger public control of essential services. But also on the city's agenda, he said that mayors are going to shape technical education in the UK and work placements for young people. And he announced local industrial strategies. Just if I remember rightly, wasn't that a Theresa May policy? But anyway, that's going to include what they describe as a triple helix of business, academia and government. So more fusion doctrine right there. But devolution was the centerpiece unsurprisingly. And he was talking about centralization, privatization, deindustrialization needing to be reversed, austerity and Brexit. These were the sequence of wrong turns, as he described them since the 1980s. He's offering a devolution deal with Cornwall, with or without an elected mayor, and the same offer extended every part of England currently without devolved power. And he's talking about new mayoral powers, including the technical education stuff that we've just mentioned, employment support, fiscal devolution, beginning with an overnight visitor levy. And that's going to start in 2027 He talked about number 10 North as a single front door to Whitehall, plus a redirection of civil service capacity out of London and into the regions. And he talked about talks with Scotland, Northern Ireland and local devolution models at a National Economic Council meeting next month. So he is claiming, we'll just bring a little bit of the quotes on screen here.
It took devolution out of the power of this place to allow big city regions and the ability to set new ambitions for themselves, he said. The government is going to oversee the biggest retribution of power. We can put more power into every postcode. He said, now just to interpret that last point, what he means is that central power will be applied in every postcode.