New British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has said his government will commit £340 million to end homelessness, known as rough sleeping, in the UK.
As soon as the elation of having a new leader began to wear off on Monday, Mr Burnham went straight to business, declaring his intention to tackle rough sleeping in the country, an issue he had already made attempts to end during his time as mayor of Greater Manchester.
“For too long, we’ve been told that ending rough sleeping will take decades or even that it’s impossible,” Mr Burnham said shortly after assuming office. “I’m not having that. This is something a government can fix if it chooses to. Today, I’m choosing to.”
The prime minister has consistently donated 15 per cent of his salary over the last nine years to charities dedicated to providing shelters while he was mayor. He also spent time at a homeless shelter in London early Monday.
“On my first day as Prime Minister, I’m announcing this government’s commitment to finally end long-term rough sleeping across the UK at the earliest opportunity,” said the new UK leader. “We’ll get to work immediately, bringing together national and local government with the investment needed to get it done.”
He added that his government will ensure Britons have “a roof over their head.”
“This is the kind of Britain I want us to be – a country where everyone has the security of a roof over their head, and where no one is left behind or written off. Let’s bring back hope,” he added.
Keir Starmer handed in his resignation to King Charles III on Monday, stepping down for Mr Burnham, who also met with the monarch that same morning.
In a decade, Mr Burnham has become the sixth person to lead the UK as prime minister, as former leaders like Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak, and Liz Truss have left office amid Britons’ dissatisfaction with their performance in a sluggish economy.
World leaders, including President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Union and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, have congratulated Mr Burnham.
