Burnham to set out cost of living support as his Cabinet meets for first time

Andy Burnham is expected to announce new support aimed at easing the cost of living crisis as his Cabinet meets for the first time. The new prime minister said he wanted to give households "breathing space" and promised to set out details on Tuesday. The announcement comes a day after he stood outside No 10 and outlined the first priorities of his government.

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Burnham completed appointments to his top team late on Monday, with John Healey named as chancellor and Ed Miliband as foreign secretary. Angela Rayner has returned to government as housing secretary, while Wes Streeting has been appointed defence secretary. The prime minister is also expected to appoint junior ministers on Tuesday, completing the first phase of his ministerial team.

In his first speech to the nation, Burnham said he wanted to bring forward the "biggest changes in the last 40 years" to British politics. He also said he planned to publish a 10-year "new plan for Britain" later this year, which he said would set out where he believes the country should be heading. Speaking on Monday, he said he would explain how the new support measures would be paid for, indicating that funding will be part of the announcement.

The immediate focus on household costs reflects the pressure on the government to respond quickly to living standards concerns. Burnham and Healey have both said they will work within the fiscal rules while keeping a buffer against uncertainty. Healey also said the government would try to make life more affordable for working people across the UK, suggesting the cost of living package is likely to be presented as part of a wider economic reset.

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The Cabinet line-up also points to several other policy priorities. Rayner has been given responsibility for housing, with a mandate to end rough sleeping and build record numbers of council homes. Yvette Cooper will oversee reform of the social care system, while Streeting faces pressure to set out how the UK will meet Nato spending targets.

Burnham has said he wants to honour the UK's defence commitments, which means the government will need to explain how those plans fit alongside spending on domestic support. What remains unclear is the size, timing and exact shape of the cost of living measures. It is also not yet known how the government will fund them or how quickly they could reach households.

Tuesday's announcements are likely to provide the first detailed test of Burnham's promise to deliver immediate relief while setting out a longer-term plan for the country.

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