Andy Burnham, the newly elected Labour leader, has confirmed he is finalising his cabinet appointments ahead of assuming the role of Prime Minister on Monday.

In his first speech as Labour leader, Burnham emphasised his commitment to devolving power to regional governments and implementing significant reforms to the social care system, which he described as 'broken'.

The former mayor of Greater Manchester outlined his plans to address long-standing issues in social care, pledging to 'expend quite a lot of political capital' on the sector.

Burnham, who will succeed Sir Keir Starmer, acknowledged the challenges facing the Labour Party but stressed the importance of unity and a 'one Labour team' approach.His vision includes rejecting 'neoliberal' policies of the past four decades and reindustrialising the UK.

While details of his cabinet remain undisclosed, speculation persists about potential appointments, with figures like Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood considered for the chancellor role.Burnham's focus on social care reform, particularly in England, highlights his priority to address systemic failures in the sector.

Critics, including Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake, have called for Burnham to present his plan to Parliament, urging transparency and accountability.As Labour faces political challenges, Burnham's leadership will be pivotal in shaping the party's future and its approach to governance.