From letters of 'last resort' to call with Donald Trump - Andy Burnham's first tasks as prime minister
New PM will be asked to make flurry of decisions in initial days of premiership
Having ticked off the ceremonial duty of delivering his inaugural speech as prime minister outside Downing Street, the real work now begins for Andy Burnham.
In the first hours and days of his premiership, he will undertake a series of key meetings that will set the ball rolling.
Some will follow long-established conventions and protocols, while others will be focused on the current challenges facing Mr Burnham and his party.
Here are seven of the most pressing appointments in his in-tray.
Security briefing
As prime minister, Mr Burnham will be brought up to date with a security briefing on the threats facing the UK, including details of any imminent terrorist threats and ongoing operations to deal with them.
The current UK terrorist threat level has been at ‘severe’ since May, and Mr Burnham has already called for a serious review into the security of MPs following the killing of Anne Widdecombe, a leading figure on the right of British politics.
Cabinet run-down
One of the first meetings Mr Burnham will have inside Downing Street is with the cabinet secretary, a role currently held by Dame Antonia Romeo. At the meeting in the cabinet room, he can expect to receive formal advice from the head of the civil service regarding key issues and responsibilities and decisions on immediate policy and structures.
Dame Antoinia will also play a key role in introducing Mr Burnham to Downing Street staff and co-ordinating other administrative and security meetings.
Nuclear letters
One of Mr Burnham’s most unnerving tasks will be to meet with Richard Knighton, the chief of the defence staff, before writing four identical letters to the Royal Navy commanders of the four Vanguard nuclear submarines which maintain the UK's continuous at sea deterrent. Known as the letters of last resort, the correspondence is explicitly designed to provide instructions for what to do in the event that Britain is hit by a nuclear attack, wiping out its political leadership.
The letters are locked in a safe aboard the submarine and destroyed, unopened, every time a new prime minister comes into office. Tony Blair reportedly “turned white” and was visibly shaken when he was told he had to write the letters when he became prime minister.
World leader calls
Throughout Monday for several days to come, Mr Burnham will field congratulatory phone calls from other world leaders, starting with allied nations, including the US, meaning that he will find himself having a chat with Donald Trump.
The two men have never met before, and Mr Burnham has previously said he’ll “deal with him very upfront” and “just meet him where he’s at.” As other prime ministers have discovered, however, it can be an unpredictable so-called special relationship. They are expected to meet in person for the first time at the G20 summit in Miami in November.
Minister choices
One of the most important decisions facing the 56 year-old is deciding who will be part of his first Cabinet. Sources have indicated that Mr Burnham is likely to choose a team that reflects a broader range of views from within the Labour party than Sir Keir Starmer’s picks, but tensions undoubtedly remain.
The decision of who will become his chancellor is the most pressing issue. While Rachel Reeves backed the former mayor of Greater Manchester, it looks as if she is set to be ousted, with Shabana Mahmood and Ed Miliband the main contenders. Reports also suggest Yvette Cooper could be moving to the Treasury, but could also remain as foreign secretary.
Daily life
Mr Burnham and his wife, Marie-France van Heel, will be given a briefing on the living arrangements in Downing Street, including which flat they want to use - the one in No 10, or the larger flat above No 11.
They will also receive briefings on where they will park their cars and arrangements for their three children, while Mr Burnham will be asked to decide where he wants his day-to-day office to be based. While the prime minister traditionally lives at No 10, Mr Burnham's living arrangements could look slightly different as he has revealed plans for a 'No 10 North' based in Manchester.
Crunch tour
Above and beyond the routine tasks involved in settling into Downing Street, Mr Burham and his team will be drawing up plans for what has been described as a “listening tour” in the first few weeks of his premiership.
There are no details as yet of where - and when - he will visit key areas around the UK, but the events will be an important step in setting out his vision, not least because he is not due to face MPs until September when the Commons returns from its six week recess.
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